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Patient Support Team
When diagnosed with End Stage Kidney Disease it is often not just your physical well-being that changes; your ability to carry on your work and engage with society in the way you have in the past may also change. This is where our Patient Support Team can help.
Based at IKA headquarters, working closely with the Chief Executive, the Patient Support Team offer a unique service supporting patients and their families experiencing the practical challenges of living with End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD). Navigating a path of social welfare entitlements and medical cards can be extremely daunting for a patient and/or their families. The patient support team’s aim is to help identify the most appropriate support for each patient/family ensuring both their long and short-term needs are being addressed. This can often require referrals onwards to other agencies such as the Department of Social Protection and other patient organisations.
Contact: patientsupport@ika.ie
Fiona Aherne
Patient Support Manager
Edina Csibi
Patient Support Assistant
HSE Living Donor Reimbursement Policy
This policy has been adopted to address the issue of the costs incurred by donors participating in the Living Donor Programme in Ireland during the pre-operative and post-operative period. The implementation of this policy is intended to minimise financial disincentives for potential living donors, with a view to ensuring the pool of living kidney donors continues to expand.*
(* taken verbatim from the Department of Health)
Claiming Health Expenses
The Med 1 Form is no longer available. Health expenses are claimed through your tax return form. You can claim relief on health expenses after the year has ended, and must have receipts to accompany your claim.
Kidney patients can claim relief, in addition to normal health expenses, for costs related to travelling for dialysis or the utilities required for home dialysis machines.
Patient Practical Information
SEAI Medically Vulnerable Solar PV System
The SEAI is funding the installation of a 2kWp solar PV system on homes, that are suitable, for those people listed on the ESB Priority Services Register.
You must be the legal owner of the Property and / or have the consent of any persons who have rights over the Property that may be affected by the Solar PV Installation, including any co-owners.
Revised policy on the reimbursement of expenses for living donors
This policy has been adopted to address the issue of the costs incurred by donors participating in the Living Donor Programme in Ireland during the pre-operative and post-operative period. The implementation of this policy is intended to minimise financial disincentives for potential living donors, with a view to ensuring the pool of living kidney donors continues to expand.*
(* taken verbatim from the Department of Health)
Health / Medical Expenses Relief
You may claim tax relief on a Form MED 1, at the standard rate of tax (20%), (with the exception of nursing home expenses for which tax relief is still available at your highest rate of tax) for certain medical expenses incurred by you, on your own behalf or on behalf of another person.
Most medical expenses, with some exceptions e.g. routine dental and ophthalmic care, qualify for relief. You cannot claim relief for any expenditure which has been or will be reimbursed, e.g. by VHI, Laya Healthcare, Aviva Health, etc., or where a compensation payment is or will be made.
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Patient Practical Information
SEAI Medically Vulnerable Solar PV System
Update 16th October 2025
The Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers now includes ALL homeowners registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register with their energy supplier.
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said: “I am pleased to announce that, due to the strong uptake and the positive impact already observed in over 470 homes, eligibility for the Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers is now being extended to include all homeowners who are registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register, with whichever energy supplier they are using.”
Update 31st July 2025
Through discussion with the person in SEAI responsible for oversight of the scheme and some of the energy providers involved, it has been encouraging to hear that members of the Irish Kidney Association were seen as being ‘very quick off the mark’ in making contact about it.
However, it has become apparent that greater clarity is needed around the roll-out of the scheme.
The key feedback is that, whilst each of the energy providers involved has their own way of doing things, the common thread seems to be that they have their internal lists of people who qualify for the scheme and are working their way through these lists rather than taking applications.
What is the scheme?
The SEAI is funding the installation of a 2kWp solar PV system on homes, that are suitable, for those people listed on the ESB Priority Services Register.
Who is a Vulnerable Customer?
A Vulnerable Customer is a person who is critically dependent on electrically powered equipment. This includes (but is not limited to) life protecting devices, assistive technologies to support independent living and medical equipment, or particularly vulnerable to disconnection during winter months for reasons of advanced age or physical, sensory, intellectual or mental health. (The above definition is taken from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).)
Priority Register
If you have been included in the life support category of the Priority Services Register from before 22 November 2022 but have changed energy provider since then, this may be the cause of some confusion, but it is not a reason for exclusion. You just need to clarify with your current energy provider that you were on the Register through your previous provider, and, if needed, the SEAI can step in to confirm this.
Your free system includes
5 x 400w Solar Panels
1 x String Inverter
Full Installation
Who set up this scheme and who is running it?
This scheme was setup by SEAI and therefore is being funded by the Government of Ireland. Eligible homeowners from the Priority Services Register have been chosen for this scheme. However, it is important to note that this scheme is not operated by SEAI.
Who manages the scheme?
Bord Gáis
Energia
SSE Airtricity
Electric Ireland
Flogas
If you are with a different provider, you will need to explore the possibility of changing to one of the four listed above.
It is important to note that the energy providers did not all deploy on the scheme at the same time, meaning some are further down the road than others in terms of actual delivery. It is worth making contact with your provider to get an understanding of where they are at.
As with all such schemes, there are budgets/limitations and delivery will, by necessity, be over a period of time. For context, a written answer from Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment given on May 27th this year;
“SEAI report that 137 systems were installed in 2024. However, with the programme now ramping up, over 160 systems have been installed in the first two months of 2025, with SEAI estimating that over 1,440 will be installed by the end of 2025.”
What is included in my installation?
As per the terms and conditions put forward by the SEAI, we will be installing x5 solar panels on your roof (400w panels). There will also be an inverter installed in your home. This converts the electricity from DC to AC, so it can be used within your home. There will be cable runs whereby we connect the panels to your inverter and from the inverter to your fuse board.
It is important to note that the scheme offers a basic solar panel package, and its installation, free of charge. Once contacted about installation, you may wish to discuss options with the contractor about building on the package, at your own cost. You may wish to consider more panels, or the inclusion of batteries, etc. The contractor involved will be best place to offer advice and let you know the cost.
How much is it going to cost me?
This scheme is being implemented by the SEAI in partnership with your chosen service provider. It is completely free of charge to you, the homeowner. The scheme is being funded by the SEAI and the Government of Ireland.
What happens during a power cut?
The purpose of the scheme is to assist in the cost of electricity. It is important to note that by default, all solar panel systems and batteries will shut down during a power cut (that said, systems that include batteries can be set up to run off-grid by adding a changeover switch).
What is the process?
All eligible homeowners should be contacted by their service provider with an introduction to the scheme, giving some information on what in entails and why they have been chosen.
How do I register as a Vulnerable Customer?
DONOR CARDS
Get an Organ Donor Card
EDUCATION PACK
Our School Education Pack
IKA MEMBER
Join the Irish Kidney Association
ORGAN DONATION
Organ Donation & Transplant Ireland