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1st October 2024
10:14am BST
This move is a part of a broader effort to make fertility treatments more accessible and inclusive for a wider range of people in Ireland.
Gavan Reilly took to X (formerly Twitter) and explained:
"Public funding for IVF treatment will be expanded in Budget 25 and will now include couples experiencing ‘secondary infertility’ (where fertility problems arise having already had one child) and those who need donor assistance to conceive."
This expansion is monumental in several ways.
Public funding for IVF treatment will be expanded in #budget25 and will now include couples experiencing ‘secondary infertility’ (where fertility problems arise having already had one child) and those who need donor assistance to conceive
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) October 1, 2024
Secondary infertility, where couples face challenges with conceiving after already having one child, has often been overlooked.
For many, the assumption that having had one child negates the emotional and financial toll of fertility struggles later in life is not only inaccurate but has also led to limited support options.
By addressing secondary infertility, the government is recognising the valid challenges these couples face, ensuring they are not left behind in the vital conversation about reproductive health.
Another critical inclusion in this policy change is the provision of public funding for those who need donor assistance to have a baby.
This includes couples or single people who need donated eggs, sperm, or embryos, and is a treatment path that has typically been very expensive and out of reach for many in Ireland.
By expanding this funding to cover donor-assisted reproduction, the state is taking a more progressive stance on reproductive rights and is acknowledging the different paths to parenthood that people may need help with.
