Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
697. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when the proposed extension of free general practitioner care for persons aged six and seven years of age will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23509/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra860. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if free general practitioner cards for under eights will be extended during the Covid-19 pandemic. [24169/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 697 and 860 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.
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.
