Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and to deal with the administrative requirement to assess those patients. Previously, they have been assessed on income and on residency. In the long-term free GP care scheme, it will be based on medical assessment and medical grounds. The Minister of State, Deputy White, reported officially and formally to the Cabinet sub-committee that to do it piecemeal is not the way to do it and that he wanted to look at the entire scheme. He wanted six weeks to come back to the Cabinet sub-committee and say whether he was able to do this more effectively for the entire scheme and progress it more effectively. We gave him that authorisation and he will come back and report on his view of how it can be done more effectively.

Let me assure Deputy Martin, and the 56,000 people he refers to, that there is no question of the Government abandoning its commitment in the programme for Government to free GP care for these citizens and, ultimately, for the entire cohort of the population.

In respect of Deputy Martin's question about the Minister, Deputy Reilly, he is the Minister for Health and he has my full support in the strategy and the changes that are necessary to bring about a more effective health service. As Deputy Martin rightly pointed out when he had that responsibility, it takes longer to get things done in the Department of Health than anywhere else.

The Minister is focused on the requirement to change structures and the effectiveness of delivery of services in the Department. Primary care is a central element and being handled very effectively by the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White.

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