Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question is specific to this area. It relates to one of the assumptions made. New evidence available shows that the introduction of free GP access for those aged six years and under has increased the number of visits by over 60%. It looks like that figure is going to trend downwards. We can assume that a figure of approximately 50% will apply. Behavioural economics provides us with compelling evidence that we use and, in most cases, over-use things that are completely free. I am concerned that if we make everything completely free at the point of use, we will see a very substantial increase beyond what would optimal use would be. What assumptions are made in the two future scenarios? Is it assumed in either scenario, as per the Sláintecare report, that acute primary care essentially will become free at the point of use for everybody? If so, what additional uptake is assumed? Econometrics show that a step change is created when there is a move from a marginal charge to a free service. It is a non-linear relationship. What uptake is assumed in this modelling?