HSE cross-border braces in Portadown
For children from Monaghan, Louth, Cavan and across the Republic of Ireland.
Is your child on an HSE orthodontic waiting list in the Republic of Ireland? Through the HSE’s Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme, you can choose private braces with us at Heathwood House in Portadown and then claim money back from the HSE once treatment is finished. Families come to us from Monaghan, Castleblayney, Carrickmacross, Clones, Dundalk, Ardee, Drogheda, Cavan and the surrounding areas.
At a glance
- Who it is for: children under 16 living in the Republic of Ireland whom the HSE orthodontic service has assessed and approved.
- Our fee: £2,900 altogether for children under 16 having metal braces.
- HSE repayment: up to €2,800, paid back after the braces come off.
- Waiting time with us: private treatment here has no waiting list.
What is the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme?
It is an HSE scheme for people who live in the Republic of Ireland. You pay a private provider in Northern Ireland for planned care, then apply to the HSE (Health Service Executive) for a repayment. It works in much the same way as the Cross Border Directive, which covers care in other EU and EEA countries, so many families still call it by that name. Only private providers are included – the scheme cannot be used for health service (NHS) treatment in Northern Ireland – and the HSE does not repay travel or accommodation costs. Read the HSE’s guide to getting healthcare in Northern Ireland.
Is my child eligible?
The HSE decides eligibility, not us. These are the main points:
- Your family has lived in the Republic of Ireland for at least a year.
- Your local HSE dental clinic referred your child, and the HSE orthodontic service then assessed and approved them. You will need the eligibility letter from the HSE orthodontic service when you claim.
- The scheme is for children under 16.
- A referral through private health insurance cannot be used for the scheme.
- Live on the Northern Ireland side of the border – in Armagh, for example? The HSE scheme does not apply to you. Ask your dentist about a health service (NHS) referral, or compare health service (NHS) and private treatment.
Eligibility depends on how severe the bite problem is, measured with the IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need). Our assessment includes an IOTN check, so you will know how your child scores – but the final say on eligibility and repayment always rests with the HSE. Unsure whether your child needs braces at all? See does my child need braces?
Our prices for HSE cross-border patients
These fees are for children under 16 having metal braces. Clear aligners are not offered under the scheme.
| Assessment (including IOTN assessment to determine eligibility for the cross-border scheme) | £100 |
|---|---|
| Metal braces | £2,630 |
| Retainers | £170 |
| Total | £2,900 |
Paying monthly: you can pay a £900 deposit, then 12 monthly payments of £179.17. A £150 plan fee is added to the remaining balance and divided across your 12 monthly payments, making £3,050 in total. More on our fees and payment options.
How much does the HSE pay back? The HSE may repay up to €2,800 towards the cost of treatment. It never repays more than you paid. We charge in pounds sterling and the HSE pays in euro, so the exchange rate affects the amount you receive. Please confirm the current figure with the HSE before treatment begins.
From first visit to HSE claim
Book an assessment
Fill in our referral form and choose “Cross border”, or ring 028 3870 2623. If you already have the HSE eligibility letter, bring it along. Find out what happens at a first visit.
Plan the treatment
We talk you through the plan, roughly how long it should take and the fees, so you have the figures before you commit. The HSE notes that a full course of orthodontic treatment usually takes 18 months to 2 years.
Treatment in Portadown
You pay us directly and keep proof of every payment. Some families also hold on to a receipt from a café or shop in Portadown on appointment days as an extra record of each visit – this is not on the HSE’s list of documents, and travel costs are not repaid.
Send your claim
Once the braces are off and your child is wearing retainers, send your claim to the HSE. Section 4 of the claim form is for the Northern Ireland provider, and we complete it for you. The HSE pays the patient or parent; it aims to pay within 30 working days but says claims are currently taking longer.
Your claim paperwork checklist
- The HSE referral letter or waiting-list letter.
- The eligibility letter from the HSE orthodontic service.
- Our receipts, showing the patient’s name and address, our details, the treatment, the dates, the amounts and a breakdown of the costs.
- Proof that you paid us directly – for example a bank or card statement, a receipt, an electronic transfer record, a bank draft or a cash receipt.
- The claim form, with section 4 completed by us.
The full list is on the HSE’s page about applying for a repayment. Keep copies of everything you send.
Travelling to Portadown from the border counties
We are at Heathwood House, 87 Bridge Street, Portadown BT63 5AA. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm; Friday, 8am to 4pm (usually closed for lunch, 1pm to 2pm). The table shows approximate road distances and drive times to Bridge Street.
| Town | By road | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Monaghan, Co. Monaghan | 44 km | 45 min |
| Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan | 48 km | 45 min |
| Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan | 66 km | 1 hr |
| Clones, Co. Monaghan | 64 km | 1 hr |
| Dundalk, Co. Louth | 55 km | 45 min |
| Ardee, Co. Louth | 81 km | 1 hr |
| Drogheda, Co. Louth | 93 km | 1 hr 10 min |
| Cavan, Co. Cavan | 92 km | 1 hr 30 min |
Estimated with OpenStreetMap route planning (OSRM) on 18 October 2026, without traffic. Allow extra time at busy times of day.
County Monaghan
Monaghan town and Castleblayney are both around 45 minutes from us, while Carrickmacross and Clones are about an hour away – so most of the county is within an hour of Portadown.
County Louth
From Dundalk the journey is about 45 minutes. Families in Ardee should allow roughly an hour, and those in Drogheda about 1 hour 10 minutes.
County Cavan
Cavan town is the longest trip in the table at about 1 hour 30 minutes, so tell us when you book if certain appointment times suit school and work better.
The HSE has published orthodontic waiting figures for Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath in reply to a parliamentary question (PQ 43090-26, June 2026). Private treatment with us has no waiting list.
Who will treat your child
Dr William Maguire and Dr Joshua Smyth are both on the specialist orthodontist registers of the Dental Council of Ireland and the UK’s General Dental Council (GDC). Dr Méabh Maguire, a dentist with a special interest in orthodontics, is registered with both the Dental Council of Ireland and the GDC.
| Clinician | GDC number (UK) | Dental Council of Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Dr William Maguire Specialist orthodontist | 257969 | Dentist registration number 1623; Specialist Register (Orthodontics) number 10DS23 |
| Dr Joshua Smyth Specialist orthodontist | 257727 | Dentist registration number 14716; Specialist Register (Orthodontics) number 6DS22 |
| Dr Méabh Maguire Dentist with a special interest in orthodontics | 257931 | Dentist registration number 8423 (not on the Specialist Register) |
Worth checking before you begin
- Ask the HSE whether going private in Northern Ireland changes your child’s place on the HSE waiting list.
- If the HSE turns down a claim, you have 3 months to appeal.
- For questions about the scheme itself, contact HSE Live on 1800 700 700.
- For anything about your child’s treatment, ask your clinician during your appointment.
Related reading: children and teen orthodontics, the cost of braces in Northern Ireland, looking after braces and meet the team.
Questions and answers
Can my child from Monaghan, Louth or Cavan have braces in Portadown through the HSE?
Yes, if the HSE orthodontic service has approved your child. Under the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme you pay us for private treatment and then claim a repayment from the HSE when treatment is finished.
What do HSE cross-border braces cost with you?
For children under 16 having metal braces: assessment (including the IOTN assessment to determine eligibility for the cross-border scheme) £100, braces £2,630 and retainers £170, which is £2,900 altogether. You can also pay a £900 deposit and then 12 monthly payments of £179.17 (£3,050 in total, including a £150 plan fee added to the remaining balance).
How much will the HSE give back?
Up to €2,800 towards the cost of treatment, and never more than you paid. Please confirm the current figure with the HSE before starting.
When is the money repaid?
Only after the braces have come off and your child is wearing retainers. The HSE aims to pay within 30 working days of a claim, but says it is currently taking longer.
Does the HSE pay for travel to Portadown?
No. The scheme does not cover travel or accommodation costs.
How far is Portadown from Dundalk or Monaghan?
By road, Dundalk is roughly 55 km and Monaghan roughly 44 km from our clinic – about 45 minutes each without traffic.
Is there a waiting list?
Not for private treatment with us, which is how the HSE scheme works.
Can my child have clear aligners on the scheme?
No. Under the scheme we offer metal braces only.
Questions about your treatment?
Our team in Portadown is always happy to help. Ring us on 028 3870 2623 or drop us an email.