Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health when legislation to provide for free general practitioner care will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57082/12]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if he will report progress on the roll-out of free general practitioner care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57023/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 76 together.

The Programme for Government commits to reforming the current public health system by introducing Universal Health Insurance with equal access to care for all. As part of this, the Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, GP care without fees within its first term of office. Primary legislation is required to give effect to Government commitment to introduce a universal GP service without fees.

Legislation to allow the Minister for Health to make regulations to extend access to GP services without fees to persons with prescribed illnesses is currently being drafted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Department and it will be published shortly. Implementation dates and application details will be announced in due course.

An additional amount of €15 million was provided in Budget 2013 for the roll out of GP care without fees.