Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
1100. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the date on which free general practitioner care will be extended to children under eight years of age as per Budget 2020; and if children that turn six years of age before the end of 2020 will be eligible for the extension. [21370/20]
View answer1334. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health when the changes to the GMS scheme for children under 12 years of age will become active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22160/20]
View answer1351. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when section 4 of the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 is to be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1100, 1334 and 1351 together.
The Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 was signed into law in August. This Act provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under. The initial stage of this phased expansion will be the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 and 8. Upon commencement of the first phase of the expansion, all children under the age of 8 will have access to GP care without fees.
The appropriate date for commencing the expansion remains under consideration in light of COVID-19 and the additional pressures the expansion might place on general practice in that context and in anticipation of the usual increase in demand for healthcare services over the winter period. This date will be determined in consultation with the IMO. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
