Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Deputy's support for our plans to extend access to free GP care for children. It will ultimately be extended to children under the age of 12. I want the parents of primary school children not to have to worry about the cost of going to the GP. The budget will decide the pace at which we can do that. The Taoiseach and I have publicly stated that we would like to extend it next year to those under the age of eight. That will require legislation, the support of the Oireachtas and agreement with the IMO on the fee to be paid.

The Deputy raised a fair point regarding equity and people who do not fit within certain age cohorts. With the support of Fianna Fáil, we changed the law to provide every child with special needs in receipt of domiciliary care allowance with an automatic entitlement to a medical card. That was championed by the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. All Members will be aware from their constituency clinics that the measure has helped many people in terms of no reviews and so on. That is one change we have made. Anyone who has a disability and receives domiciliary care allowance automatically receives a medical card. That is welcomed by all members.

On broader eligibility, I am conscious that Ms McGahey will appear before the committee to deal with Sláintecare at the end of the month. The Department will commence a significant body of work on eligibility, encompassing who should be eligible, who should pay, what constitutes universal healthcare and how we will meet costs. We will examine those issues. I agree with the Deputy. My policy position is that once we provide for those aged under 12, as we should, eligibility should be extended based on income and need rather than being in a specific age cohort.