I extend my sympathies to the family and friends of Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall who, like many teenagers, were on their right-of-passage holiday after their leaving certificate when their lives were so tragically cut short. Their deaths in Greece are every parent's worst nightmare and a devastating blow to everybody who knew and loved them.

I welcome today's announcement that the Government is finally going to deliver on its promise to provide free GP care to children aged six and seven next month and that it has plans to extend GP cards to those on average incomes. There has been a lot of time to plan for these roll-outs. What has the Government done to boost capacity in the system in preparation for this?

In my constituency, Dr. Fiona Kelly had to close her surgery in Beara at short notice yesterday because she was not able to find locum cover. Dr. Kelly is taking her first family holiday since last summer, which was only made possible because a retired GP offered to cover for her. Unfortunately, that GP's medical insurance expired at midnight on Sunday and despite attempts to extend it by a day, it was not possible.

I thank Deputy Cairns. Her time is up.

The only option was for it to be extended for a year. What is the Government doing to increase capacity and help hardworking and exhausted GPs such as Dr. Kelly who are providing such a valuable service?

I want to be associated with Deputy Cairns's remarks and extend the condolences of the Government to the families, friends and school community of St. Michael's, in particular the family and friends of Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall, who sadly lost their lives in Ios. It must be any parent's worst nightmare and a devastating event to happen to young men who were starting off on the next chapter in their lives. Our thoughts and condolences are with them. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance through the embassy in Athens and two members of An Garda Síochána have been sent to Greece to provide assistance. We will assist the families in any way that we can.

Deputy Cairns raised the issue of extending free GP care. This started in 2014 with the under-sixes when I was Minister for Health and Kathleen Lynch was Minister of State. It was extended after that to carers and people over 70. This is a huge further step forward.

I thank the Taoiseach.

Free GP care has been extended to all children aged six and seven and to families on median incomes or below. The reason it took so long is we needed to get agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, precisely to deal with some of the issues raised by Deputy Cairns. For example, as part of what we are doing, which is part of the agreement, there is-----

We are out of time.

-----a trebling in GP training spaces. Doctors will be coming in from South Africa and other places. There are improvements in grants for practice nurses, capitation payments and maternity leave payments, all of which were agreed with GPs in recognition of the fact that more GP visit cards will result in more attendances.