Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the introduction of free general practitioner care; when the scheme will commence for children under six years of age; the way he will address the concerns that extremely sick children, who are older, will not see any benefit from this; if he will widen medical card eligibility to help these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8030/15]

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, as set out in the Programme for Government. The Government has commenced this process in respect of all children under 6 years. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014, which provides an entitlement for all children aged under 6 to a GP service without fees, was enacted on 25th July 2014. Under a Framework Agreement, the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO are engaged intensively on the introduction of GP services without fees for children aged under 6. The aim is to have the under-6s phase implemented by Quarter 2, 2015, subject to the conclusion of those discussions and the conclusion of the fee-setting process.

The medical card system is fundamentally based on means and this position has obtained for more than 40 years. However the Government recognises that the health service needs to be responsive to the circumstances of people, including children, with significant medical needs. In November 2014 the Minister for Health and I announced a series of measures to enhance the operation of the medical card scheme and make it more sensitive to people’s needs, especially where serious illness is involved. Where deemed appropriate in particular circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card even though an applicant's means exceed the prescribed threshold. Where a person does not qualify for a medical card, they may be provided with a GP Visit Card, appropriate therapy or other community supports or drugs and appliances under the Long Term Illness scheme, where the qualification criteria are met.

The HSE has recently established a Clinical Advisory Group for Medical Card Eligibility. The Group will provide oversight and guidance to the operation of a more compassionate medical card system and will focus initially on the development of a framework for assessment and measurement of the burden of disease in this context.