Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on health oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments relating to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers the implementation of health reforms, including Sláintecare. The Cabinet committee last met on Thursday, 9 June, and is expected to meet again shortly. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet committees, I meet with Ministers on an individual basis to focus on different issues. I meet regularly with the Minister for Health to discuss priorities in the area of health, including Slåintecare.

A number of priority programmes and reforms under Sláintecare have continued to be advanced to provide people with the right care in the right place at the right time. Work is progressing on the establishment of six new regional health areas and on the elective care centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The enhanced community care programme also continues to develop healthcare at a more local level closer to where people live, reducing pressure on hospital services. I have seen the enhanced community care programme in operation and it is a significant advancement on what was there previously.

Last week, the Government announced investment of €23.4 billion in our health and social care services. This represents the highest allocation of funding to the sector in the history of the State. It is designed to facilitate better access to affordable and high-quality healthcare during the current cost-of-living crisis and further advance our ambition for universal health care for all. Specifically, €107 million is being allocated to ease cost-of-living pressures. As part of this, eligibility for GP access cards is being extended. By the end of 2022, it is intended the scheme will cover all children aged six and seven. From 1 April 2023, it will be extended to people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less. This measure alone will positively impact 500,000 people. Following the recent abolition of overnight and day case public inpatient charges for children under 16 years of age in all public hospitals, all inpatient hospital charges will be abolished from 1 April 2023. Additional measures include: €10 million for access to IVF treatments; the expansion of the entitlement to free contraception to women aged 26 to 30, and to 16-year-olds, subject to legal advice and consultation; and €5 million to introduce free oral healthcare for children up to seven years of age.

Essential services and service providers will also be financially supported this winter. Section 39 organisations, nursing homes and hospices will be eligible to receive additional support through a once-off health sector fund of €100 million. Access to care is being further prioritised with capacity commitments in the form of increasing staffing levels, delivering 250 new acute, critical care and community beds and a €443 million package to reduce waiting lists. Major increases in mental health services will be implemented, support for older people with a range of needs will be extended and nearly €30 million in new funding has been allocated for expanded disability services.

In the immediate term, the Department of Health and the HSE are at an advanced stage of planning for winter 2022-23. This includes rolling out the 2022-23 influenza campaign, which commenced this week, and making every effort to reduce any potential impact Covid-19 may have.

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