Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his response and the overview he outlined. He mentioned the expansion of the GP card. Budget 2023 committed to expanding the GP card to people on median incomes, that is, some 400,000 people or thereabouts. It is a very welcome and positive measure, especially in a climate where people are finding costs so much more difficult right across their lives. That measure has not been implemented, but there was an expectation it would be earlier this year. I understand discussions are under way with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, the HSE and various other parties in regard to it. Where is the roadblock and why is this stuck? What is happening? How soon can people expect to get access to that expanded GP card? For a great many people, they are not, thankfully, going to be dealing with acute services and their interaction with the health services is in the community and with their GP. Being able to deal with issues there, before they become more acute, is the best approach, so having that access to the GP card for as many people as possible would be positive. Will the Taoiseach outline what the roadblock is and how soon the cards will be expanded to those people, as committed to in budget 2023?

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