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NTPF to receive around €75m in Budget to cut waiting lists

Funding is to be allocated to deliver 609 new hospital beds over the next few years
Funding is to be allocated to deliver 609 new hospital beds over the next few years

A fund of around €75 million is expected to be allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to cut hospital waiting lists in tomorrow's Budget.

Overall, day-to-day spending will be over €16 billion, the highest ever.

Capital spending will be in excess of €670m.

Funding is to be allocated to deliver 609 new hospital beds over the next few years.

A transitional fund will also be announced to begin the implementation of the SláinteCare ten-year plan.

A 50 cent reduction in prescription charges is expected, as well as a reduction of €10 in the maximum amount payable under the Drug Payments Scheme which will be €124 a month.

Mental health services will receive an extra €55m.

Resumed talks between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation on a new GP contract are scheduled for Wednesday, the day after the Budget.

The amount of funding on offer for a new contract will not be disclosed tomorrow.

GPs have been demanding the reversal of the cuts imposed under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, before agreeing to any new work.

Under the Budget, the income threshold for a GP Visit Card is to be increased by €25. It is estimated that this might make around 100,000 more people eligible for free GP care.


Read more: What we know about Budget 2019