Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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729. To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made on the roll-out of universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/14]

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 which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where there is fair access to services based on need, not on ability to pay. The Programme for Government commits that everyone will have a choice of insurer. Under UHI, everyone will be insured and will have equal access to a standard package of primary and acute hospital services, including acute mental health services. A new National Insurance Fund will subsidise or pay insurance premiums for those who qualify for a subsidy.

Intensive work is currently under way on the preparation of a White Paper on Universal Health Insurance which will provide more detail on the UHI model for Ireland, including the overall design of the model, the standard package of services, funding mechanisms and the key stages of the journey to UHI. Drafting is at an advanced stage and the intention is to bring the White Paper to Government in early 2014 with a view to publication thereafter.

The health reform programme is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and sequencing over a number of years and full implementation of UHI will take some time to achieve. I anticipate that by 2016 the necessary groundwork will be in place to enable us to phase in implementation of UHI, as promised in the Programme for Government. I should add that it is my intention to consult widely on the implementation of the proposals contained in the White Paper.