Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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60. To ask the Minister for Health his plans on funding models in the wake of the abandonment of the universal health insurance model proposed in the 2011 programme for Government and the 2014 White Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42984/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The reports detailing the estimated cost of the UHI model outlined in the White Paper on Universal Health Insurancewere published on the 18 November. Having deliberated on the findings, I concluded that the high costs involved in introducing the White Paper model of UHI are not acceptable and have, therefore, decided that there is a need for further research and cost modelling in relation to the best means to achieve universal health care.

The next phase of research will include deeper analysis of the key issue of unmet need and a more detailed comparative analysis of the relative costs and benefits of alternative funding models. This work will be carried out under the auspices of the joint Department of Health/ESRI Three-Year Research Programme on Health Reform. Both the research undertaken to date and that planned in the next phase of the costing exercise will assist Government in deciding on the best long-term approach to achieving its goal of universal health care.