Willie O'Dea
Question:68. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the affordability measures in healthcare pledged in Budget 2022. [7911/22]
View answerTuesday, 15 February 2022
Questions (68)
Written answers
The Programme for Government set out the pathway for expanded access to health care in keeping with the vision and ideals of Sláintecare.
We promised to expand universal access to healthcare in a manner that is fair and affordable.
We have delivered and are continuing to deliver on that commitment.
The funding allocated to Health in Budget 2022 is the biggest ever investment package in Ireland’s health and social care services and demonstrates the Government’s commitment in the Programme for Government to deliver Universal Healthcare in a number of important areas.
€11.5 million was provided to fund the reduction in the Drugs Payment Scheme monthly threshold for an individual or family household from €114 to €100 on 1 January this year. Last week the Government announced a further reduction to €80 which will be effective from 1 March this year.
The combined effect of those two reductions in the DPS threshold will be an annual saving of €408, or 30%, for any individual or household that regularly exceeded the 2021 threshold of €114.
Budget 2022 also included provision for the expansion of free GP care to all children aged 6 and 7. My officials and the HSE are already engaged in preparatory work, and I expect to be in a position to bring forward proposals to the IMO later this quarter.
A sum of €10 million was provided on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million to improve the viability and sustainability of the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS).
Funding of €4.5m has been provided for measures to alleviate the financial burden associated with hospital charges for children accessing care in a public hospital. My Department is currently working on preparing the necessary legislative amendments, and it is my intention to introduce the legislation in the Oireachtas later this year.
The roll out of a free contraception programme for women and girls aged 17-25 is expected to commence in August 2022, at a cost of approximately €9 million.