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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Couples in Leitrim and across the wider North West region are set to benefit from expanded access to state-funded Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) treatment, following changes announced by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD.
Under the updated criteria, couples who already have one child in their relationship and meet all other existing eligibility requirements can now access publicly-funded AHR treatment.
This includes one full cycle of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
The move has been welcomed locally by Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan.
“I am sure there are many couples right across the North West region who face huge financial challenges in their ambition to have a second baby,” he said.
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“The current criteria will include couples with an existing child, which is really good news for so many couples across this region and the country,” Deputy Feighan added.
An extensive programme of work is underway to advance the legislation necessary to support AHR services and to establish a dedicated regulatory authority.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, signed into law by the President in July 2024, aims to regulate fertility clinics offering treatments such as IVF and to ensure AHR practices and related research are carried out in a consistent, standardised, and properly supervised manner.
Minister Carroll MacNeill commented: “Since we introduced publicly-funded Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) treatment in September 2023, close to 2,500 couples have been referred by Reproductive Specialist Consultants, and many have achieved their dream of starting a family.
“Fertility issues can be devastating, and I am conscious that secondary infertility is a significant issue, with many people facing huge financial and emotional difficulties in their attempts to have a second child.
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“I have listened to the requests from parents in this difficult situation, and I am pleased that we are now in a position to make this potentially life-changing treatment available to more people,” she added.
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