Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
528. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if registrants of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland were formally consulted on the proposed 42% fee increase; if so, the outcome of that consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35844/26]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for raising the question.
The PSI is operating within a constrained financial environment, with ongoing operational deficits placing sustained pressure on its reserves.
A public consultation exercise was carried out from 30 October to 27 November 2025. The survey was published on the PSI website, and an email was sent to all registrants and wider stakeholders, highlighting that a public consultation was ongoing in relation to the PSI’s Fees Rules.
As part of the public consultation exercise, registrants and wider stakeholders were provided with a copy of the revised Fees Rules, the Core Funding Review Report, which provided the rationale for the proposed increase in fees, and a survey to provide comments in relation to the proposed changes to the PSI Fees Rules.
The PSI received 682 responses to the public consultation.
The PSI also met with key representative bodies, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), Hospital Pharmacists of Ireland (HPAI) and Pharmacists in Industry, Education, and Regulation (PIER).
Overall, the consultation feedback reflected a range of concerns among respondents regarding the affordability and perceived fairness of a uniform fee increase, including calls for consideration of tiered or segmented fees, greater transparency and clarity on value for money (including more detailed cost information and benchmarking).
The PSI considered this feedback and proposed phasing the increase over three years to reduce the immediate burden, noting that some flexibilities (for example, differentiated categories) would require legislative change.
