Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

136. To ask the Minister for Health when she will introduce a proper disposal of unused medicines scheme as required by EU law since 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52119/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I published the Community Pharmacy Agreement 2025 on the 18th of September, following the successful conclusion of negotiations with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU).

The Agreement supports the delivery of safe, equitable, and efficient healthcare, and ensures community pharmacists are better equipped to contribute to national health priorities through structured engagement, sustainable funding, and integrated service delivery.

The Agreement is available on the Department of Health’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/community-pharmacy-agreement-2025/

Enabling patients to return their unused medicines to their local community pharmacy, restricts access to unused medicines, thereby reducing harm to the environment, and the risk of accidental poisoning in children, and the risk of suicide or self-harm.

A new national service is to be commissioned by the HSE which will enable patients to return their unused medicines to their local community pharmacy.

The service will provide a nationwide pathway for people to return unused and out-of-date medicines to their local pharmacies at no cost to them for doing so. Paper packaging can be disposed of using normal recycling avenues. This initiative will commence in 2026, following a procurement process.