John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the introduction of GP cards for carers and people on carer's benefit. It is another step towards the overall goal, which Fianna Fáil supports, of free GP care for all. However, that will not be achieved without the negotiation of a new GP contract. I hope that this modest expansion of the service is being done with the agreement of the GPs and that there is capacity in the system to absorb it. Last April the Minister intimated that the negotiation for the new GP contract had started. There has been zero progress since that announcement. The negotiation of the contract must get off the ground and over the line before any further progress can be made on the advancement of primary care.

The issue I wish to highlight is home care packages and people hoping to receive those packages. Carers getting a medical card is a great advance but, currently, in CHO 7, CHO 3, CHO 4, CHO 5 and CHO 9 no home care packages have been given since last January. I have been in contact with people in CHO 7 due to the fact that I am friends with them. There is little point in a Deputy from any party putting in a request in CHO 7 for a home care package because it will not be given. What is even more ridiculous is that CHO 6 is alongside CHO 7 and in some cases the geographical areas are separated by a road, so one side of the street is CHO 7 and the other is CHO 6 and if one is on the other side of the street one will get a home care package. I am reliably informed that there are 12 families looking for palliative care home care packages in CHO 7 and they will not receive them. This information is accurate; I am not being sensationalist. It is a huge issue. Deputies send in repeated representations seeking home care packages but none has been given since last January. The Minister of State can check; that is a fact.

While I welcome this positive development, I ask that the GP contract be negotiated and that home care packages be allocated to the areas that currently have none. Finally, will additional staff be appointed to deal with the 14,000 applications that this measure will generate?

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