Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for outlining how the expansion of free GP care is to proceed. Could he confirm if there are any plans by the Government to expand the roll-out of free GP care to those children aged over seven and under 18? We in the Labour Party proposed in our alternative budget that there would be an expansion of free GP care to all those under 18, as originally envisaged. Now, it appears that this Government has abandoned that plan, so the Taoiseach might confirm that, please.

Second, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is publishing its annual report for 2021 this afternoon. The report will show constant increases in the need for help with more than 14,000 calls last year to the centre. Could the Taoiseach commit to certainty for organisations such as the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, and indeed other rape crisis centres around the country, by providing for multi-annual funding for these organisations that provide critical public services, yet are struggling to retain staff and must work year-to-year in relying on Government funding?

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