Free GP care for under-6s ‘will cost double estimate’

The Government’s free GP care for the under-6s plan will cost double the amount originally planned with a supplementary budget likely to be needed to fund the initiative.

Fri, 17 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch admitted the situation yesterday, but claimed the extra €30m now required will not come from other health areas.

Speaking during a Dáil debate on the health service, Ms Lynch said the cost of the project is now expected to be €67m, not €37m.

She said “we may need a supplementary budget towards the end of the year”, but said any extra funds will not damage other services.

Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher questioned whether the Government’s budget could cope if all GPs sign up to the under-6s deal, and suggested officials may be “hoping only some” do to save money.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has been accused of camouflaging a surge in outpatient hospital waiting list numbers.

In the same debate, Mr Kelleher said 405,000 people are waiting for vital appointments at hospitals, including 9,569 whose care has been delayed for over two years.

Mr Varadkar said while some of these people are being “double counted”, resulting in incorrect figures, he is taking action and wants no one to wait more than 18 months by the middle of the year.

However, Mr Kelleher said the comment amounts to the cabinet member “applauding yourself” for doubling previous nine month targets.