Fertility treatment
Information
Assisted Human Reproduction services (including In Vitro Fertilisation or IVF) are not provided by the public health services. Any services that are provided are not currently subject to statutory control. That is, there is no law governing the provision of these services. Medical practice concerning the provision of Assisted Human Reproduction Services is governed by guidelines issued by the Irish Medical Council.
Rules
IVF is not provided by the public health services. There is no law preventing IVF but there is no legal framework regulating it either. Your family doctor (GP) may refer you to the private specialists and clinics that provide the service.
The Medical Council has ethical guidelines that set out the conditions under which it is ethical for a doctor to provide IVF treatment. The Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction completed its report on how assisted human reproduction might be regulated in April 2005. View the Report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction here (pdf).
In May 2005 the Minister for Health and Children referred the Report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children for consideration. Its recommendations will provide the basis for informing public debate prior to the finalisation of any policy proposals.
Tax relief and fertility treatment
You may claim tax relief on the costs involved in IVF treatment as part of the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. Drugs used as part of fertility treatment are also covered under the Drugs Payment Scheme. Under the Drugs Payment Scheme an individual or family only has to pay a maximum of €132 (from January 2012) for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances for use by that person or their family in that month.
Language
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Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.