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General Practitioner Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Questions (664, 726, 727, 790)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

664. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when free general practitioner care will be extended to six- and seven-year-olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9052/22]

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Duncan Smith

Question:

726. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of free general practitioner care for six- and seven-year-olds; when he expects the service to be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9302/22]

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Duncan Smith

Question:

727. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if has he met with an organisation (details supplied) since budget 2022 to specifically discuss the roll-out of free general practitioner care for six- and seven-year-olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9303/22]

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Seán Canney

Question:

790. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when free general practitioner care for seven- and eight-year-olds will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9595/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 664, 726, 727 and 790 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 up to and including the age of 5 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 in three phases: to children aged 6 and 7; to children aged 8 and 9; and to children aged 10,11 and 12. Budget 2022 provides for the initial stage of this phased expansion, the provision of GP care without fees 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, representing GPs, later this quarter, after which engagement can commence 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.

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