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public health, and sustainable investment. It will further support community pharmacies in diversifying their health service offerings, business models and revenue streams. On phased dispensing, there is one important element of the agreement, changes being made to the rule set around phased dispensing, which I would like … outline to the House. This agreement does not remove phased dispensing. Phased dispensing was introduced in 1996 for patient safety reasons. The supply of medication in instalments can support patients prescribed certain high-risk medications who are at risk of medication misadventure if these medications were

backwards. The reality is that when we were talking about the community pharmacy agreement in October in this House, I raised issues about phased dispensing and blister packing. There was no action from the Minister or her Department. It is only when uproar has arisen in the past … responded to say that she has to try to work things out. We all know that blister packing is separate from phased dispensing, but the reality is that many pharmacists were using the money they were receiving for phased dispensing to put together blister packs for their patients

agreement is that we will see a very real and tangible impact on the most vulnerable, arising from the ending of phased dispensing for reasons 1 and 4 in the agreement. I am conscious the HSE has wanted to end phased dispensing for a considerable period, as there … just hand over the blister pack. Those with a visual impairment are also impacted. One pharmacist told me he only started to use phased dispensing some years ago when a person with a visual impairment came to him and said they wanted their medication to come

raised concerns about changes in the agreement when we spoke about it back in October. I highlighted concerns around changes in respect of phased dispensing but nothing was done. It was not until there was increased public pressure that it was suddenly decided that things would change … Something that has not come up enough in this debate, in the media or in the Minister's contribution is the changes to phased dispensing and the impact that will have for some of the most vulnerable parts of our community. Deputy Sherlock made reference to that

area is brilliant. First, I thank Deputies again. I know that the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has outlined that the proposed changes to phased dispensing have been paused until the end of quarter 1 of 2026. This pause was agreed to allow the IPU and its members … issue and in March 2025, it published an article making it clear to its members that blister packing is not the same as phased dispensing and is not reimbursed by the State. While monitored dosage systems may have a role for some patients, there is significant uncertainty around

annum this year and we have targeted measures effectively on the cost-of-living side to support those most in need. On phased dispensing, we will certainly look at any situation where there is potential hardship on any patient or any person in receipt of medicine … Deputy mentioned pharmacies and so on. There is an issue between the HSE and pharmacies in respect of the whole area of phased dispensing, which was introduced as far back as 1996 for patient safety reasons. The supply of medication in instalments can support patients prescribed certain high

them blister packs for free but charging the State under a different heading, as Deputy Cullinane referenced. They have been charging under the phased dispensing scheme, which is a very different scheme. Charging like that is wrong, inappropriate and contrary to numerous circulars that the HSE has issued … been charging this inappropriately and how the regulator or others purport to deal with that. There are many people who have been charging. Phased dispensing is a really important protection for people, particularly those getting psychotropic drugs, opioids and codeine. Those drugs are dispensed, and pharmacists are paid

circumstances of it. As part of the community pharmacy agreement in 2025, all the parties agreed to introduce improved controls for phased dispensing. That would ensure that patients on high-risk medications such as antipsychotics or opioids are appropriately targeted with support for phased dispensing rather than getting … everything in one go. It is important that I clarify the difference between phased dispensing and what has become known as blister packs. The State has supported phased dispensing because it is a crucial patient safety initiative with antipsychotics and opioid drugs. The State has supported phased dispensing

pharmacists. I understand that this was funded indirectly; I said so at the time. It seems that this was funded through the phased dispensing scheme and that pharmacists were essentially offsetting the cost of blister packs through phased dispensing. Whatever about the rights and wrongs of that … There are different ways this can be done. She could allow GPs, for example, to determine whether, through the same funding pot as phased dispensing, we provide for blister packs as well. Obviously, funding into the pot could be increased. There are a lot of options open

typically dependent on the packs, which as the Minister said on Sunday - and fair enough - are being funded through what is called a phased dispensing reimbursement scheme, are on low incomes. This is coming on top of increasing food and energy costs. There was another announcement … blood tests. When the Government negotiated the agreement with the pharmacies this year, this was not included. The State always paid for the phased dispensing and that was used as a safer way for different people. Some pharmacies were using it to cover the costs, and that

medicine. Initially, pharmacists offered an opt-in for an optional blister packing service. Then it became slightly more formal with the recognition of phased dispensing. That could be requested by a GP. In 2017, the HSE PRCS decided to take a more in-depth look because the fees … phased dispensing service were increasing. They were up around €68 million per annum at that stage. They dropped back to between €53 million and €54 million, on average, in 2022-23 and €58 million per annum in 2024. There are effectively three systems in place. The first

should have access to this new service free of charge. I accept that for eligible patients under the HSE drugs scheme, the medication dispensed will be reimbursed. However, one of the main arguments for the common conditions service was to divert medical card holders away from overstretched … still be the only place where they can do so free of charge. Another major issue with this agreement is the ending of phased dispensing for certain groups and the limiting of eligible medicines, as reported in the Irish Examiner last week. Phased dispensing was put in place

there was an issue where the Department did not know on a practical level that the facts of the situation were that the phased dispensing scheme was being used to pay for these, it was this. I could instance hundreds of different ways where I feel … using it, particularly older vulnerable people with dementia, brain injuries and disabilities. The monitored dosing systems were historically reimbursed in practice through phased dispensing, as the Minister has admitted, which was in reality known to everybody who was involved in the system. We raised the concerns in October

past there was a system of phased dispensing that was paid for by the State. It evolved into patients getting blister packs. In disadvantaged areas and areas of low income many people who had blister packs had the cost covered by the Government. The Government recently brought … without discussing it with pharmacists on the ground and there was no consultation with doctors or patients. Now there are no payments for phased dispensing or blister packs for those receiving one on a weekly basis. A lot of home help providers do not deal with medication unless

That was never the case. We also understand, and I acknowledged this at the time the community pharmacy agreement was being reached, that phased dispensing was being used by some pharmacists to offset the cost of blister packs. Whatever about the rights and wrongs of that, which … said, the Government knew when it negotiated this agreement and, as it saw it, tightened up on the rules in relation to phased dispensing, that this was going to happen. I knew it was going to happen. I warned the Government, it did not listen

ways. There are also people who were receiving blister packs free of charge but the pharmacist was incorrectly charging the State under the phased dispensing scheme for something that was not appropriate, not allowed and not legitimate

Department of Health; — the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 explicitly excluded reimbursement for monitored dosage systems (MDS), which had previously been reimbursed through the phased dispensing reimbursement mechanism, a practice which was widely known, accepted, and unchallenged by the Government; — MDS, such as blister packs, are an essential

ábalta a gcuid pacáistí táibléad blister a fháil saor in aisce. The Taoiseach's Government's decision to restrict medications covered under the phased dispensing scheme operated by pharmacies is a disaster. The Government's decision means some of the most vulnerable people will no longer receive tablet

particular concern are the exclusion of blister packs or monitored dosage systems, MDS, from reimbursement under the agreement and restrictive provisions on phased dispensing, limiting its use and removing reimbursement in some cases. These omissions undermine safe medicines management for vulnerable patients and place additional strain on pharmacies

practice, education and placement, postgraduate training, research and workforce development. Pharmacy already plays a much wider role in healthcare than simply dispensing medicines. The next phase is to build on the community pharmacy agreement and the common conditions service, and moving to universal healthcare must include pharmacy care

preliminary business case in February 2026 and procurement is progressing. The programme will be managed through a series of regional deployments on a phased basis to mitigate risks and ensure lessons learned are incorporated throughout the programme, with all health regions live by 2032. As with major infrastructure … value for money and appropriate oversight. Alongside these programmes, the national electronic prescribing programme is progressing through procurement. The resulting electronic prescribing and dispensing service will result in safer, better care for patients, especially as they transition between healthcare settings. The Health Information Bill, which passed into

scheme. The Bill proposes to include pharmacists as prescribers of contraception in clearly defined clinical circumstances, in addition to their existing role in dispensing contraceptive medicines and devices. The plans for this were published in 2025, with an outline of the service fully agreed with our stakeholders … separate service. In line with introducing pharmacy prescription, we are also bringing the national condom distribution service into pharmacy consulting rooms on a phased basis. Efforts are also being made to make this service more accessible to GPs. Condoms are the only form of contraception that protects against

collecting the data ,and we will be providing it to those entities as part of the auction process. Unlike what happened with the phase 1 projects, which were effectively developer led, we have moved to take control. That work is already done and we are working through … enough electricity to be able to look to hydrogen storage, we can move that piece of fossil fuel kit on to another location, dispense with it or sunset it. Another thing I would like to mention in more general terms, because I think will arise in respect

least now we know the Government is not going to do it and the charade of the previous programme for Government is dispensed with. As the Minister stated, there are 11 sections and 83 recommendations. I will focus on some of the key ones in the time available … bring the all-in cost of development down to achieve greater affordability. It is interesting to note that the commission recommends phasing out the help-to-buy scheme, something the Government is not willing to do, and wants it to be replaced by an equity scheme. The problem

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will suspend implementation of the proposed changes to phased dispensing under the new community pharmacy agreement pending full consultation with front-line clinicians; if she will undertake a risk impact assessment, specifically examining effects on vulnerable groups … will commit to co-designing revised criteria for phased dispensing with GPs, pharmacists, disability services, and patient groups (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68088/25

taken to ensure protections remain in place for persons who rely on phased systems for medication dispensing, ahead of the planned removal of phased dispensing under the Community Pharmacy Agreement Act 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52446/25

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will reexamine the decision to cease the phased dispensing reimbursement service for certain medications in community pharmacies (details supplied) which cannot be prescribed on a phased basis. [68567/25

availing of the GMS medicines optimisation support service since its commencement on 1 June 2026; the number of patients previously in receipt of phased dispensing who have transitioned to the new service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53324/26

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether patients in receipt of free phased dispensing or blister packs in August 2025 will retain that support indefinitely under the GMS medicines optimisation support service; the arrangements for new patients who would previously have qualified

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether his Department has examined the role of repeat prescribing, automatic renewals, phased dispensing, blister-pack changes, and non-adherence in contributing to medicines waste; and whether any reform proposals are under consideration. [38766/26

Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Health to respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding the application of charges for blister packs, noting that phased dispensing is essential for patient safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24861/26

prescribed medicines in home-care settings; and if she will outline the alternative State-funded supports are available to such patients where phased dispensing is clinically inappropriate. [12156/26

when her Department first became aware that monitored dosage systems, including blister packs, were being provided to patients in practice while pharmacies claimed phased dispensing fees; the policy, governance, or compliance actions that were taken by her Department at that time; and if she will outline the Department

that patients with disabilities or complex medication needs do not experience disruption to medication compliance supports during the current pause in changes to phased dispensing arrangements; and whether clinicians or pharmacists have discretion to continue such supports where clinically indicated. [10672/26

asked the Minister for Health if any advice or guidance has been provided to pharmacists with respect to the pause on changes to phased dispensing control mechanisms; if so, to provide a copy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5226/26

blister packs, as a result of changes agreed under the Community Pharmacy Agreement; if she intends to amend previously agreed changes in phased dispensing control mechanisms during the current pause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5227/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health her plans to review the phased dispensing scheme, which currently covers only nine core drug families;and whether this will be expanded to include blister packs for vulnerable patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73866/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if phased dispensing will still be provided free of charge for patients at the request of their physician; whether the HSE expects this to take place for many existing patients; when the approved list of medications will be provided

early 2026; the proposed membership of this group; if it will include representation for vulnerable groups, in particular those impacted by changes to phased dispensing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70725/25

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will reexamine the decision to cease the phased dispensing reimbursement service for certain medications in community pharmacies (details supplied). [68566/25

Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the approved list of medications for reimbursement for phased dispensing under the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025; if reimbursement is available to medical card holders availing of monitored dosing systems due to a diagnosed medical conditions (details supplied

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will reverse the proposed changes to phased dispensing under the new community pharmacy agreement, which are due to come into operation on 1 January 2026; if her Department or the HSE assessed the impact of these changes

Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently reconsider the decision to cease the phased dispensing reimbursement service for certain medications in community pharmacies (details supplied); if she is aware that this decision has caused huge concern in community pharmacies, and among the families

vulnerable i.e. people who have reading difficulties, people with mobility difficulties and elderly disadvantaged people will not be impacted by the ceasing of phased dispensing in January 2026 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59540/25

asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the drastic impact that the ending of reason one and reason four for phased dispensing in the recent community pharmacy deal will have on vulnerable older persons and those with a disability; and if she will make