A successful allergy treatment programme at Cork University Hospital is now at the centre of a national call to expand life-changing services for children across Ireland.
At a meeting with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD on 27 May, Allergy Action Ireland (AAI) and consultant paediatric allergist Dr Juan Trujillo highlighted the real-world impact of Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) already underway in Cork for under-five’s, and AAI urged Government to roll it out nationwide for all.
The meeting, facilitated by Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn, was attended by Allergy Action Ireland parent representatives Sheila Downes, Ruth Kidney and Julie Rothwell. The Minister was joined by Interim Chief Medical Officer Mary Horgan and the Department of Health’s Head of Medicines Pricing and Reimbursement, David Cullinane.
OIT, which involves introducing very small amounts of an allergen under specialist supervision and increasing it over time, is helping young children build tolerance and significantly reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions. The approach is increasingly used internationally and is transforming outcomes for families living with food allergies.
Parents at the meeting spoke about the daily reality of raising children with life-threatening allergies and the constant vigilance required to keep them safe.
Julie Rothwell, parent representative with Allergy Action Ireland, said: “Every decision we make as parents is shaped by risk — from school lunches to birthday parties. Knowing there is a treatment that could make our children safer, and not having access to it, is incredibly difficult. The work being done by Dr Trujillo and his team in Cork is giving families real hope. We need to see that level of care available to children over five.”
Allergy Action Ireland is now calling on Government to build on the success in Cork by investing in the national rollout of OIT, introducing additional allergy treatments such as Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) and Omalizumab, improving access to specialist care, and accelerating the development of a coordinated national allergy service.
The need for action is growing. Emergency department admissions for anaphylaxis have nearly doubled over the past decade, while food allergies affect an estimated one to two children in every classroom.
The organisation said the meeting marked an important step forward, but stressed that urgent progress is needed to ensure equitable access to care for families across the country.
Allergy Action Ireland is a patient-led advocacy group calling on the Irish Government to urgently recognise allergies as a serious public health issue and to deliver meaningful legislative and policy change. Its mission includes establishing a national strategy that ensures access to life-changing treatments such as Oral Immunotherapy (OIT), SLIT and Omalizumab, alongside a standardised approach to clinical support in educational and childcare settings. Through increased awareness, understanding, and medical reform, Allergy Action Ireland aims to improve safety, inclusion, and quality of life for all those living with this chronic and long-term condition.