A Cork County councillor is urging the local authority to lead the charge in skin cancer prevention by installing free sunscreen dispensers in public buildings, describing the move as a small but potentially life-saving gesture.
Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne, recently co-opted to the council following the election of Kanturk TD John Paul O’Shea, proposed that sunscreen dispensers be installed across all county council offices and libraries. Her aim: to normalise the use of sunscreen and reduce the incidence of skin cancer, now the most common cancer in Ireland.
“Over 11,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in this country,” Ms Browne told council colleagues. “By 2045, melanoma cases alone are expected to more than double in both men and women. This is not a distant threat — it is already on our doorstep.”
Browne also called on the council to write to the Minister for Health to request funding for similar dispensers in all public buildings, including schools and third-level institutions, emphasizing that prevention could both save lives and reduce pressure on the health system.
“While we may not live in a sun-drenched country, our fair skin, unpredictable weather, and low awareness of UV risks create a dangerous combination,” she said. “Even on cloudy days, UV rays can still damage your skin.”
She described the dispensers as a “gentle reminder that your health matters, your life matters,” and highlighted the financial logic behind prevention. Treating a single case of skin cancer can cost the health service €122,000, compared to just €4,000 for early-stage intervention.
Ms Browne’s proposal received support from fellow councillors and has sparked renewed discussion on the importance of public health initiatives targeting preventable cancers.
If adopted, Cork County could become one of the first local authorities in Ireland to implement widespread public access to sunscreen — a move advocates say could become a national model.
