Over 11,000 people diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland every year – calls for free sunscreen in all schools and public buildings
In 2022, research conducted on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society found that just a third of Irish people apply sunscreen regularly, and nearly one in seven of us never wear it in Ireland.
The issue was debated at a recent full council meeting after Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne brought forward a motion urging Cork County Council to install free sunscreen dispensers in all Council offices and libraries.
The motion also requested Cork County Council to write to the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill seeking dedicated national funding to provide sunscreen dispensers in public buildings across Ireland, including schools and third-level institutions.
Cllr Browne said the move is both practical and essential in light of the growing skin cancer crisis in Ireland. 'Over 11,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland every year, and tragically, most of those cases are preventable. This motion is about normalising the use of sunscreen, just like we normalised hand sanitiser during Covid. It's a small change that could make a huge difference.'
Ms Browne cited alarming projections from the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023–2026, which forecasts a doubling of melanoma cases by 2045, particularly among men. 'With fair skin being the most common skin type in Ireland, UV protection is more important than ever even on cloudy days. People often assume that sunscreen is only for hot, sunny countries, but in Ireland, UV rays still penetrate through cloud, and they still cause damage. This is not just a seasonal issue, it's a public health issue."
The motion also emphasised the cost-effectiveness of prevention, noting that while treating advanced melanoma can cost over €122,000 per case, early prevention costs just a fraction of that.
'We can't afford for more diagnoses or more suffering,' said Cllr Browne. 'This initiative is not only about saving lives, it's also about saving our health service money. Our communities deserve visible, accessible tools to stay safe in the sun. We care about people's health, and we're ready to act.
'This is a simple step we can take right now and I sincerely hope the Minister for Health will join me in making it a national priority,' she added.
The motion was seconded by Independent councillor Ben Dalton O'Sullivan who said skin cancer is very prominent and unfortunately cases are on the increase.
Fianna Fáil councillor Gearóid Murphy praised the motion for being practical and sensible. 'We live in a country which often has very changeable weather. It would be a good idea to try and roll this out on a national basis.'
Fine Gael councillor Kate Lynch emphasised the importance of normalising the use of sunscreen. 'By installing this in schools we are making it part and parcel of a daily routine. We need to normalise kids putting on their own sunscreen. I don't think we realise the seriousness of it until it actually knock on your door and someone is diagnosed with skin cancer. The solution can be fairly simple. Protect ourselves rather than having to deal with the actual cancer itself.'
Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury said: 'Having four young children I know how significant it is to ensure they are fully protected with sunscreen and with our increasing warmer climate all preventative measures should be taken. I would also love to see the removal of VAT from sunscreen as well.'
'I would support the principle of the motion,' said the CEO of Cork County Council Moira Murrell: 'Our first duty of care is to our employees. We do provide sunscreen for staff that work outdoors. Primarily it is a public health initiative. If there is a national scheme and if local authorities are asked to engage in that, we will fully support that public health initiative. We will certainly be in a position to work with any national scheme that is there.'
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