Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply. That is helpful because the GP visit card is welcome. We acknowledge that it is there. The figures she gave mean that, I think, about one in 12 people who are entitled to it have applied for it and got it, or one in 11 or something like that. Obviously, there is a big piece of work there for the Government and all of us to try to get the word out there on that. It is important that we get people into primary care and that we are able to treat them in primary care because many people neglect their own health due to health costs and they finish up with a more chronic condition in some accident and emergency unit. Obviously, that is not the place we want them to be. It is bad not only for their health and for outcomes but also for financial management within the HSE. We are supposed to be moving towards a universal health system under Sláintecare. As I understand it, we have less than two years left to do that. This is one thing we can do, but I wholeheartedly welcome the GP visit card. We need to go the whole way and we need to start moving up the income limits. I think the Minister will agree that a €184 income threshold in 2025 is just off the Richter scale. She mentioned the balance. The seesaw is tipped too much against those on lower incomes.

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