526. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if, given that under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 he is obliged to review the nature of community pharmacies services, he will engage meaningfully with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss fees before the 30 June deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39777/24]

571. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when the restoration of pharmacy fees will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39927/24]

586. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the setting of a flat rate fee for dispensing medicines and an administration fee per prescription to cover labour costs for community pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39971/24]

614. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 28 February 2024, the status of his Department’s review of the pharmacy fee structure; the engagements he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40206/24]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 526, 571, 586 and 614 together.

I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.

There has been ongoing engagement between Department officials and the Irish Pharmacy Union regarding the potential to extend the scope of practice of community pharmacists and the enablers needed to implement that. My Department has been carrying out a comprehensive review of the pharmacy fee structure in the context of this engagement and the intended expansion of the scope of pharmacy practice, following the recommendations of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.

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.