Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of the extension of free general practitioner care for children up to 12 years of age. [17073/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government intends to extend GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 and 12 years on a phased basis, starting in 2020. Legislative changes will be required to give effect to this extension.

It is not possible at this time to give an estimate of the cost of extending GP care without fees to this cohort of the population. The fees will be determined following consultations with GP representatives on the scope and content of the general practitioner service to be provided.

Following consultations with the relevant GP representatives, an appropriate fee for the provision of the service by GPs will be set under the Public Services Pay and Pensions Act 2017.