Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 677: To ask the Minister for Health if a White Paper on universal health insurance will be published before the end of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32404/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to fundamental reform of healthcare in Ireland that will deliver a single tier health system, supported by universal health insurance, where access is based on need, not income. In February, I established an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance which will assist in developing detailed implementation plans for universal health insurance and driving implementation of various elements of the health reform programme.

The Group will also assist my Department in preparing a White Paper on Financing Universal Health Insurance. The White Paper will outline the estimated costs and financing mechanisms associated with the introduction of universal health insurance. Preparation of the White Paper is a complex process. It will involve significant financial modelling to support analysis of different design options and to estimate the cost of UHI. Given the complex nature of the issues involved it is not anticipated that a White Paper on Financing UHI will be published before the end of 2012. Nevertheless, the White Paper will be published as early as possible within the Government's term of office.