David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1437. To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe to deliver full universal and free general practitioner-care to all citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29082/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As per the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for more children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop.

My officials and the HSE are engaged in preparatory work for the commencement of the initial stage of the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7. Consultations with the IMO, representing GPs, are currently underway with the intention of introducing this service this year.

The Sláintecare vision for universal access to healthcare at low or no cost recognises the need for careful planning, as expanding eligibility could generate significant increases in demand for GP and other primary care services. Eligibility is to be expanded on a phased basis in line with GP capacity so as not limit the ability of general practice to meet the needs of all patients in the community. As such there is currently no timeline for universal GP care without charges.

Measures taken by the Government to increase GP capacity and the number of GPs in the State are already having an impact. There has been a significant increase in the number of GPs entering training in recent years, up from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with large increases made in recent years. The transfer of responsibility for training to the ICGP, completed last year, will result in further increases in the coming years. 258 GP training places are planned for 2022.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1438. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of patients on the general practitioner visit-only card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29083/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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At the 1st May, 530,425 people hold a GP visit card and, when those holding medical cards are taken into account, nearly 2.1m people (over 41% of the population) have access to GP care without charges.

In accordance with the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children. At present, my officials and the HSE are engaged in preparatory work for the commencement of the initial stage of the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7. Consultations with the IMO, representing GPs, are underway with the intention of introducing this service this year. It is estimated approximately 80,000 additional children aged 6 and 7 will be eligible for a GP visit card under the expansion.