Niall Kelleher, Fianna Fáil local election candidate in the Killarney electoral area has warned that the absence of detail from the Government about their compulsory health insurance plan is a major worry for people in Kerry.
“What is clear about this proposal is that there is a complete and utter absence of any detail on how much the Government’s new compulsory health insurance will cost families in Kerry. The plan that was published recently is so vague on detail, that it raises more questions than answers” said Niall Kelleher.
My party colleague Deputy Billy Kelleher and Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Health has said “We’re now into the fourth year of this Government and not only is the plan on Universal Health Insurance (UHI) extremely late it lacks basic information on the price people will have to pay once it is implemented. The Department of Public Expenditure has estimated that this new charge could cost up to €1,600 a year per person. This amounts to a major tax increase which many people will simply not be able to afford.”
“Typical of the arrogance of this Government, Minister James Reilly T.D. appears not to be interested in listening or indeed taking valuable suggestions from the key medical practitioners who will be at the frontline of his plan. It is ill thought out and fluffy pie-in-the-sky stuff. What is also causing huge annoyance to people that I’ve met on the doors recently, is that the Government appear to be trying to pull the wool over our eyes. The electorate will see through this stunt, of attempting to conceal the true costs of their plan, until after the local and European elections” said Niall Kelleher.
“It has been suggested that annual costs could be as high as €1600 a year as part of the new plan from the Government. What makes this so infuriating for families throughout Kerry is that Minister Reilly had promised that his new regime would see nobody pay more than they were previously paying for health insurance. Once again, another broken promise” concluded Niall Kelleher.
