Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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918. To ask the Minister for Health the action her Department and HSE have taken on the proposed introduction of a national programme for the safe disposal of unused medications in the community in line with EU Directive 2001/83/EC; if she will commit to pursuing this matter further with a view to establishing a safe, consistent and accessible return system through community pharmacies nationwide as a matter of priority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39080/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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919. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement that has taken place between her Department and HSE with the community pharmacies with a view to introducing a national programme for the safe disposal of unused or expired medications by members of the public in line with EU Directive 2001/83/EC; if she is aware of the patient-safety, public-health and environmental risks posed by the lack of a funded national scheme for medicine return and disposal; and if she will commit to pursuing this matter further as a matter of priority with a view to establishing a consistent and accessible return system through community pharmacies nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39081/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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920. To ask the Minister for Health if there has been any engagement between her Department, HSE and a union (details supplied) on the proposed introduction of a national programme for the safe disposal of unused medications in the community in line with EU Directive 2001/83/EC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39082/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 918, 919 and 920 together.

Pharmacists play a crucial role delivering many important services to support the health of our communities, offering expert advice, ensuring the safe supply of medicines, and delivering vaccines to the public. They are also among the most accessible healthcare professionals nationwide.

The State (the Department of Health and the HSE) has commenced formal contract negotiations with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), under the agreed Framework of Engagement, published on 23 May 2025 (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/framework-of-engagement-between-the-department-of-health-the-health-service-executive-and-the-irish-pharmacy-union/).

The current formal talks include a consideration of fee and service arrangements and related matters, with due regard to the IPU’s role as the representative body for community pharmacists. The intention is to reach an agreement which will support a modernised community pharmacy sector.

It is my intention as part of these engagements with the pharmacy sector that the implementation of a national Disposal of Unused Medicines Properly (DUMP) programme will be discussed. There is a parallel need to raise awareness to ensure the appropriate use of prescribed medicines and to reduce the instances of medicine wastage.

I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.