Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the implementation of the programme for Government particularly in the area of universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35596/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to the major agenda of health reform set out in the Programme for Government and the policy statement, Future Health. In particular, I want to push ahead as soon as possible with key reforms in areas such as extending free GP care on a phased basis, improving the management of chronic diseases, implementing key financial reforms including Money Follows the Patient, and establishing hospital groups as a critical enabler of improving patient quality and efficiency.

The Government published the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance in April. This set out the Government's proposals for a universal, single-tier health service for Ireland. A public consultation on the White Paper on UHI was undertaken. Last month I received the report of the independent analysis of the main themes outlined in the responses received and I intend to publish it shortly. My Department has also initiated a major costing exercise for UHI, led by the ESRI. I expect to have initial costings by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

When I became Minister for Health, I reviewed our progress to date and the timescales for implementing very important reforms, including UHI. I came to the conclusion that it will not be possible to introduce a full UHI system by 2019, as envisaged in the White Paper.However, I want to emphasise my commitment to implementing reforms, and in order to do this I want to examine some key elements further. I will then decide on the best way forward in consultation with my colleagues in Government. When I receive the results of the ESRI costing exercise next year, I will be in a position to set out in more detail the next steps and I will bring proposals to Government.