Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss the very important issue of GP visit cards for six and seven year-olds. As she knows, GP visit cards for those aged under six were introduced a number of years ago and have been a very helpful mechanism for parents to access free GP healthcare for their children.

Children can get very sick very frequently when they are young. Having free GP visits ensures that no family has to work out how sick a child is before it must bring him or her to the doctor and pay a significant fee of €60. This might happen twice or three times in one week. Children can get very sick very rapidly. If a parent is making a judgment call that the child is not sick enough to warrant the spending of an extra €60 from a family budget, the child could get very sick very rapidly. It is a position no family wants to find itself in. No family should have to go without fuel, food, heating or petrol to get to work or school. Those are the decisions families make every day.

In June 2020, legislation extending GP visit cards to all children under 12 was passed. It was announced in budget 2022 last October that free GP visit cards for six and seven year-olds would be introduced this year. This has not yet happened. Given the severe pressures on families and the rising price of electricity, gas, motor fuel and food, I am appealing to the Minister of State to announce today that the commencement of GP visit cards for six and seven year-olds will take place imminently. Parents cannot wait any longer. There is a significant squeeze on families. I know the Minister of State is very aware of what families up and down the country are facing and the real impact of introducing a measure like this on families and health provision for children. It would be a very welcome measure if it was announced today.

I spoke with the Minister for Health this morning about this issue. He understands the urgent need to relieve costs for families. I believe talks with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, are ongoing but I think we should prioritise this matter. Things happened overnight during Covid because it was a crisis. The cost of living for families all around the country is also a crisis and needs to be prioritised. I also believe we need to move beyond those aged six and seven quite urgently but given that the commitment regarding six and seven year-olds was in the budget, that needs to happen this year without any further delay. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response.