David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I need to move on to other questions. I am happy with those responses anyway.

I refer to the increase of GP visit cards, which is something I also welcomed and called for last year. I was happy to see that progressed eventually, particularly for the six- and seven-year-olds, for which we were waiting for some time. I also agree on not going further in that space this year, so we did not call for that in our alternative budget. However, we have to go further at some point, which means we have to build in the additional capacity. We need to accelerate the Sláintecare commitments in that space. I would argue also there has been no work done in recent years on expanding the eligibility criteria for medical cards – increasing the thresholds. That needs to be looked at because they are outrageously low, to be honest. The qualification thresholds are too low.

I will make a point because I want to get onto the issue of the cost overrun. The delivery of additional free GP cards for a greater cohort of the population will depend on the workforce planning piece of general practice. That involves not just training more GPs but also general practice nurses. We know we need to double that capacity as well. Perhaps a note could be provided to this committee on that area. If we are not going to expand them this year, it is on the basis that we need to bed in the existing ones and do more. Rather than answering that question, can Mr. Watt give a commitment he can give us a detailed note as best he can?