BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) places a physical and psychosocial burden on patients. It also places a burden on the healthcare system for several reasons, including disease related hospitalization/surgery. For healthcare planning purposes, it’s important to quantify the burden of IBD related hospitalization/surgery so that informed decisions can be made about the appropriate management and resourcing for persons with this chronic condition. There are no published studies reporting the cost of IBD related hospitalisations/surgery in Ireland. OBJECTIVES: To determine the cost of hospital admissions for IBD in Ireland, with particular emphasis on surgery- related hospitalisations.   METHODS: The total annual number of all in-patient and day patient discharges with IBD as a principal diagnosis (i.e. ICD10 codes K50-K52) from the acute hospitals participating in the Hospital In- Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme in Ireland was determined for years 2009-2013. The annual rates for 2014-2020 were predicted using a mathematical model. The total number of cases with a surgical procedure recorded was also determined. Weighted average IBD related DRG costs (€1,880), from Casemix, were assigned to predicted 2015 hospitalisations. For surgical procedures, a weighted average unit cost of €1362 (Daycase) and a weighted per diem cost of €411 (In-Patient) were assigned to the average lengths of stay associated with the 2013 surgical discharge cases. RESULTS: In 2013, the total number of hospital discharges with IBD as the principal diagnosis was 13,343. This number is predicted to be 14,380 in 2015 and rising to 17,095 in 2020. The IBD related hospitalisations in 2015 are estimated to cost €27million. In 2013, 4557 out of 13,343 hospital discharges with IBD as principal diagnosis had a surgical procedure recorded.  Assuming similar discharge rates to 2013, the estimated total cost of surgical procedures in 2015 is €9.2 million. CONCLUSIONS: IBD related hospitalisations/surgery place a large burden on the healthcare service in Ireland.