There are currently six Regional Fertility Hubs across Ireland. You will be referred to the hub that serves your area. You cannot choose which hub you attend for initial assessment — this is determined by your GP based on your location.
Holles Street, Dublin 2
Part of the NMH maternity network
Parnell Square, Dublin 1
One of Ireland's oldest maternity hospitals
Cork Street, Dublin 8
Serving south Dublin and surrounding counties
Wilton, Cork
Serving Munster region (excl. Tipperary/Limerick)
Newcastle Road, Galway
Serving Connacht and the west of Ireland
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Part of Limerick University Maternity Hospital network — serving the midlands, Tipperary, and Limerick
The HSE has indicated waiting times of approximately 3 months to be seen by a specialist at a Regional Fertility Hub after GP referral. Actual waiting times vary by hub and demand. All hub services — tests, consultations, and treatments up to IUI — are free once referred. You do not pay for your hub appointment.
Book an appointment with your GP (General Practitioner) and explain you are having difficulty conceiving. Your GP will conduct initial assessments and discuss your situation. If you meet the criteria, they will refer you to your regional fertility hub. If your GP declines to refer you and you believe you meet the criteria, you are entitled to seek a second opinion from another GP.
When the Regional Fertility Hub receives your referral, they will post both a male and a female questionnaire to you. Your appointment will not be scheduled until both questionnaires are completed and returned — so return them promptly to avoid delays.
Both partners must attend. The hub will conduct a comprehensive assessment including blood tests (AMH, FSH, LH, Day 21 progesterone), semen analysis, pelvic ultrasound, and other investigations as clinically indicated. All tests at the hub are free. The hub may also offer treatments such as ovulation induction before referring for IVF.
A Reproductive Medical Consultant will review your results and recommend the appropriate treatment. If IVF, ICSI or IUI is recommended and you meet all eligibility criteria, you will receive a HSE Consent Booklet for AHR Services.
You select your top 3 preferred private fertility clinics from the list of HSE-approved providers. You sign a consent form authorising your medical records to be shared with your chosen clinic. The hub then sends your referral to the clinic.
Your IVF, ICSI, or IUI treatment is carried out at the private clinic of your choice, fully funded by the HSE. There are no out-of-pocket costs for the treatment itself. Medications are free with a medical card; otherwise they may be partially covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme (capped at €80/month).
Once referred by your hub, you can choose any of the HSE-approved private fertility clinics. Approved clinics include (but may not be limited to):
The full up-to-date list of approved clinics is available at hse.ie/services/fertility-clinics.
If you are accessing IVF privately (either because you do not qualify for HSE funding, or you are choosing private treatment while waiting), you can claim tax relief on medical expenses at your marginal rate (20% or 40%) through Revenue. This applies to:
At 40% relief, a €5,000 IVF cycle effectively costs €3,000 after tax. Claim via your myAccount on revenue.ie.
🛒 Preparing for Fertility Treatment
The HSE recommends starting folic acid at least 3 months before conception. Available from Lir Pharmacy — Irish-based, nationwide delivery.
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Not meeting the HSE criteria does not mean treatment is impossible. Here are the main alternatives available in Ireland:
Private IVF in Ireland typically costs €4,500–€7,000 per cycle, depending on the clinic and protocol. Many clinics offer phased payment plans. As noted above, tax relief at your marginal rate is claimable on all private fertility costs. Thérapie Fertility currently offer one of the more affordable private cycles at around €4,595.
Even if you do not meet the criteria for free IVF/ICSI/IUI specifically, you may still be referred to a Regional Fertility Hub for other treatments — such as ovulation induction, timed intercourse support, or surgery. These hub services are also free once referred. Discuss this with your GP.
If you believe you meet the criteria and your GP declines to refer you, you have every right to seek a second opinion from another GP. This is explicitly acknowledged in HSE guidance.
Fertility challenges can have a profound impact on mental health and relationships. You are not alone — close to 2,500 couples have been referred through the HSE scheme since September 2023, and thousands more access private treatment each year. Support is available:
Samaritans Ireland: 116 123 (free, 24/7) | Pieta House: 1800 247 247
The Irish Fertility Society (fertilitysociety.ie) also provides peer support resources.
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🏥 Take the HSE Eligibility Quiz →Last verified: May 2026. Criteria sourced directly from hse.ie, gov.ie, and citizensinformation.ie.