Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Health his views that free under six general practitioner care could lead to GPs being overwhelmed with work and subsequently resulting in waiting lists to see GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40546/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government. As announced previously, it was decided to commence the roll-out of a universal GP service by providing all children aged 5 years and under with access to a GP service without fees. €37 million (full year) is being made available for the provision of GP care without fees to children under six years.

On 4th June 2014, a Framework Agreement was concluded between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO in relation to the draft contract for the provision of services to children under 6 years of age. The Framework Agreement sets out a process for engagement concerning the GMS/GP contract and other publicly funded contracts involving GPs. A number of meetings have already taken place between the parties. 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.

Regarding additional workload, research carried out for the Department in 2013 indicates that fee-paying children under 6 years of age have an annual GP visitation rate of 2.7, whereas, medical card/GP visit card holding children in the same age cohort have an annual visitation rate of 3.1. It is not expected that such an increase in visits will result in an intolerable workload for GPs.