John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in welcoming the Minister to the House. I wish him the best in his new role in what remains a challenging time for the country in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important Bill, which seeks to expand on a phased basis eligibility for free GP care for children aged under 13 and to increase the income limits for persons aged 70 and over from €500 to €550 for a single person and from €900 to €1,050 for a couple.

My party and the Minister's have been strong supporters of the roll-out of free GP care for some time. As alluded to by my colleague, since 2015 when the current Tánaiste was Minister for Health, all children under six years of age have been automatically entitled to free GP visit cards along with periodic health assessments and access to the asthma cycle of care programme. In the past, we have received criticism from some quarters for the universal aspect of that provision. People have said that those who can pay should pay. I believe the Minister will agree that misses the point. The whole point of the measure's universal nature is that a family with a sick child can attend a GP without having to fork out €50 or €60 just to see the GP. It also gives families a return on the taxes they pay.

The Minister referenced an interesting statistic, one that not many people will know. Since 1 June, just shy of 2.1 million people in the State, or 42.6% of the population, have had access to free GP care. It is a significant number, but I do not remember it being acknowledged in the media or by Opposition parties. I look forward to that provision being expanded over time. The changes that we are bringing about with this legislation will benefit an additional 300,000 children in three phases, focusing first on six and seven year olds and then moving to eight and nine year olds before moving to ten, 11 and 12 year olds. It should be noted that 195,000 children in the six to 12 age bracket already receive free GP care at the point of access.

It is estimated that 56,000 persons aged over 70 will be eligible due to the increased medical card income thresholds being introduced in the Bill.That is a significant change. As the Minister rightly stated, many of our older people will face increasing health issues as they get older. Given that this requires costly medication, a full medical card is more beneficial for them than the GP card.

I wholeheartedly endorse the Bill. It will ensure that our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbours will qualify for full medical cards, but I ask that the Minister keep the income thresholds under review. We cannot allow another six years to pass before the limits are addressed again. Perhaps the thresholds could be reviewed on a 12 or 18-month basis.

I reiterate my best wishes for the Minister. If the Cathaoirleach allows, I will ask the Minister that, when Covid passes, he take the opportunity to visit my constituency of Waterford to open formally some of the fantastic health facilities that have been completed in recent months - the Dunmore wing in University Hospital Waterford, St. Patrick's community hospital and the primary care centre on the grounds of St. Otteran's Hospital. He would be more than welcome and we would like the opportunity to speak to him about other health issues, which have already been raised with him, in particular cardiac care for the south east.