Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The health information and patient safety Bill will not be published before the summer recess but will go for pre-legislative scrutiny shortly. There are several priority Bills in respect of water, paternity payments, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation and several other matters I would like to get cleared before the summer period.

In respect of the carers and the issue of appeals, the Minister is working to reduce the appeal time. If an appeal is successful, it is obviously backdated. The carer’s support grant has been fully restored, a change from the cut in previous years. The programme for Government commitment in respect of the rural GP practices is a priority for the new Minister for Health and he is beginning work on this. There has not been an overall change of contract in this respect for more than 40 years. It is a priority for the Minister who will work with GPs in respect of that. We will report progress in due course.

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