374. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will introduce a scheme to cover the costs associated with blister packs, as the majority of senior citizens simply cannot afford this payment and are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72677/25]
Topics / Pharmacy Services
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsPharmacy Services
169 questions from 58 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 13 October 2026.
169
questions
166 written, 3 oral
58
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
4
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 2 |
| February 2025 | 2 |
| March 2025 | 1 |
| April 2025 | 13 |
| May 2025 | 4 |
| June 2025 | 11 |
| July 2025 | 2 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 3 |
| October 2025 | 7 |
| November 2025 | 7 |
| December 2025 | 18 |
| January 2026 | 25 |
| February 2026 | 19 |
| March 2026 | 3 |
| April 2026 | 5 |
| May 2026 | 30 |
| June 2026 | 3 |
| July 2026 | 7 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 6 |
| October 2026 | 1 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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27
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21
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20
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13
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5
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5
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5
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4
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
391. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide State funding for the preparation of blister packs in pharmacies to ensure that elderly and vulnerable patients who depend heavily on this service for their health are not impacted financially; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72796/25]
398. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a matter regarding blister packaging (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72860/25]
410. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that funding for blister packing services will continue as this has been an important support for many people in ill health, as outlined in correspondence from persons who rely on this service to sort their medicine (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73036/25]
426. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if pharmacists participating in the free HRT scheme have been advised on a matter by the PCRS (details supplied); if so, the legal basis on which this is done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73113/25]
1055. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department carried out an assessment of the financial or clinical impact of introducing a blister pack charge, particularly for older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72225/25]
1077. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if it is HSE policy that pharmacists participating in the free HRT scheme must ascertain a patient's sex assigned at birth when they suspect this differs from their gender marker in medical records; if so, the legal and medical basis for this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72271/25]
1079. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if she plans to restore State-subsidised blister packs for older, vulnerable patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72275/25]
1096. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE will no longer be providing blister packs to patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72322/25]
1113. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health if she will consider funding for blister packs, given the cost that these packs will now have for the most vulnerable in our communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72416/25]
1149. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the key measures taken to improve pharmacy services during 2025; her priorities for same in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72567/25]
355. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 690 and 691 of 2 December 2025, her plans with respect to the strategic collaboration group to be established in 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 mat…
1056. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the reason for adding an addition charge for blister packaging. [70171/25]
541. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health to outline any engagement her Department has had with the Irish Pharmacy Union to encourage the use of European made pharmaceuticals wherever possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68984/25]
241. 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); if not, if this will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68221/25]
690. 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 on vulnerable patients to safely manage their medications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68087/25]
691. 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; if she will commit to co-designing revised criteria for phased dispensing with GPs, pha…
525. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health to consider providing funding for free blister packaging for patients from pharmacies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66968/25]
300. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that pharmacists are warning customers that the free blister packing service that they offer will be discontinued soon; her views on this development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66475/25]
586. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 457 of 13 November 2025, if all valid prescriptions for HRT products, which are for the time being on the reimbursement list, are eligible for the free HRT scheme regardless of the reason they were prescribed; if not, the way in which pharmacists are expected to ascertain the reason a prescription was made when there is no …
1040. 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 of vulnerable customers who have previously been availing of this scheme. [63147/25]
1046. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify that roles (details supplied) are now added to the role of community pharmacies. [63161/25]
1848. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Health if she will address the ongoing shortage of salbutamol nebuliser solution in community pharmacies; the actions being taken by the HSE, the Medicines Management Programme and the HPRA to stabilise supply; the expected timeframe for restoration of normal availability; the clinical guidance being issued to prescribers and pharmacists regarding safe alternatives …
1939. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if the HSE covers the cost of blister packing services from pharmacies, in particular for those who obtain antidepressant medication in small doses due to suicidal tendencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59306/25]
844. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the serious implications for the elderly, particularly those living alone as a result of the HSE decision to withdraw funding for the preparation of blister packs by pharmacy staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57303/25]