Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1050. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of free general practitioner care for children aged between six and 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41661/21]
View answer1123. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when he will consult with an organisation (details supplied) on the extension of general practitioner care without fees to children aged 7 and 8 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41802/21]
View answer1517. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when free general practitioner care will be extended to those under the age of eight years. [43175/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1050, 1123 and 1517 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. At present all children under six years of age are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 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.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. This date will be determined following 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.
