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government is - I have not heard anyone in government doing this, and the Minister for Health certainly is not - blaming pharmacists at all. Pharmacists have an important role to play. In fact, in our programme for Government, we commit to wanting to see an expanded role for pharmacists … pharmacy contract. When properly and robustly financially supported, there is huge potential for pharmacists to do more. I know that from calling into them across the country. There is no blame game here at all. What there is is a new Minister in a new Government determined

their medication. The Irish Pharmacy Union has highlighted several issues, including insufficient communication from the Department of Health, no IT system for the pharmacists' reimbursement and no fixed date for the scheme's commencement. Additionally, it looks like the scheme excludes GP consultation fees and pharmacy dispensing charges … includes a GP visit fee of €50 to €70 and some pharmacies charge a dispensing of €5 to €10. Pharmacists have contacted me and raised several concerns regarding the free HRT scheme. These concerns underscore the need for clear communication, a robust IT infrastructure and a well-defined

Irish Pharmacy Union has published independent research that suggests that €6.50 is the appropriate service fee that should be available to pharmacists when implementing this programme. As it currently stands, the fee is set to be €5. Will the Taoiseach commit to listening to independent pharmacies and review … programme that, potentially, will not be implementable, according to many pharmacists

working intensively on this issue. In fact, we discussed it as recently as yesterday. She has had a number of direct meetings with pharmacists and their representative body to try to get this matter over the line. In addition, the Department and the HSE have engaged extensively with … order to get to a point where the scheme can be activated once and for all in a way that supports our pharmacists, whose great work in communities across Ireland I acknowledge, and, crucially, fulfils the policy objective of making sure these HRT measures are funded and available

place the blame on the Irish Pharmacy Union. The delays are on the side of the Department of Health. Many people are contacting pharmacists expecting prescribed medication to be free under the assumption the scheme has already been implemented by the Government. It is unfair to blame … pharmacists for this confusion. To be honest and fair to the women of this country, when will this scheme be rolled out and will it be entirely free

That has been available to be implemented since January. The Deputy is correct to say that there had not been enough dialogue with pharmacists in the context of the implementation of the scheme. I met the Irish Pharmacy Union twice - in early February and again last week … cost of the medication to be eliminated and just the dispensing fee to be left. The matter is still under negotiation with pharmacists more broadly to make sure it is workable for them

value for money for taxpayers and everything else. I respect the IPU. It has a job to do, which is to advocate for pharmacists, but just because it says a certain figure, do we all just say that is the figure

steps she has taken to deliver on commitments given; if she further accepts that failure in this areas does not rest with pharmacists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18692/25

Health if a system is in place that enables women to access free HRT by only paying the dispensing fee to the pharmacist and not paying for the medication itself; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19715/25

Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health , the number of WTE pharmacists that work in CAMHS in CHO9 area; if this number will be further increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19747/25

Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE pharmacists that work in CAMHS within CHO3 in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased later in 2025. [17665/25

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health to provide a timeline for commencement of pharmacists being able to prescribe prescription-only medication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16641/25

provision of free hormone replacement therapy, given the commitment given in Budget 2025 for same; the reason for the delay with the pharmacists; and when women will be able to avail of this free therapy; and the date to resolve the issue (details supplied). [17035/25

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the protocols and processes available or used by pharmacists to return unused medicines or to redistribute any paid for, yet unused medicines in the wider pharmacy sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17364/25

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure the fees paid to pharmacists are increased (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16460/25

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if she will address the medicine shortages that are forcing pharmacists to source expensive unlicensed medicines for patients with medical cards (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16461/25

Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress made to alleviate the pressure that pharmacist staff at the HSE corporate pharmaceutical unit (CPU) are working under because of resource challenges; the total current personnel numbers for the CPU (including whole-time equivalent data) and comparative data