Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 970: To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe for the publication of the white paper on financing universal health insurance. [23822/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system. The aim of this reform is to deliver a single-tier health service that will ensure equal access to care based on need, not income.

While universal health insurance is the ultimate destination of this Government's reform programme, there are a number of important stepping stones along the way and each of these will play a critical role in improving our health service in advance of the introduction of universal health insurance.

Key reform initiatives include the establishment of the Special Delivery Unit, significant strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients, the introduction of a more transparent and efficient "Money Follows the Patient" funding mechanism for hospitals and the introduction of a purchaser / provider split, whereby hospitals will be established as independent, not for profit trusts. The Government has recently given approval for an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance, details of which are currently being finalised and will be announced in due course. This Group will have responsibility for assisting the Department in preparing a White Paper on Financing Universal Health Insurance which will outline the estimated costs and financing mechanisms associated with the introduction of universal health insurance. The White Paper on Financing Universal Health Insurance will be published within the Government's current term in office. However, it must be emphasised that the precise cost of universal health insurance will significantly depend on the success of various reform measures, such as those outlined above, over the next 3-4 years. This will influence the development of the White Paper and, as such, it is not possible to be more specific regarding its publication at this stage.