Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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83. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39455/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government is committed to the introduction of a universal GP service for the entire population in line with the Programme for Government. Universal access to a GP service for the entire population, without a financial barrier, is a key component of developed European health systems because GPs are best placed to appropriately manage a person’s health. As announced in Budget 2014, it was decided to commence the roll-out of a universal GP service for the entire population by initially providing all children under 6 years with access to a GP service without fees. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014, which provides an entitlement for all children aged under 6 to a GP service without fees, was passed by the Oireachtas in July 2014.

The Government is providing new, additional funding of €37 million to meet the cost of this measure which will provide a GP service to approximately 240,000 children that must currently pay to see a GP. The service will be made available without any user fees or charges, nominal or otherwise. It is important to state that medical cards are not being withdrawn from any person in order to fund this service. The additional funding of €37 million for this service is not savings made up from elsewhere in the health service.

On 4th June 2014, a Framework Agreement was concluded between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO. The Framework Agreement sets out a process for engagement concerning the GMS/GP contract and other publicly funded contracts involving GPs. Discussions are underway between the Department, the HSE and the IMO under the Agreement in relation to the provision of free GP care to children under 6 years. A number of meetings have taken place and further meetings have been scheduled.

When discussions on the contract’s scope and content and fee structure have been concluded, the setting of the fee rates will be a matter for the Minister for Health, subject to the provisions of legislation and the Framework Agreement. The objective is to have universal GP care without fees for children under 6 years in place in the coming months, subject to the conclusion of the present discussions and the completion of a fee-setting process.