€1.3bn plan to revive health service

SINN Fein has proposed an alternative health budget that would see an extra €1.3billion invested in the HSE next year.

- FERGHAL BLANEY

It is promising to abolish the prescription charge, reduce the amount you pay before qualifying for free drugs from €80 to €50 and bring 400,000 more people into the medical card scheme.

Each area has been individually costed.

The main opposition party is going to be unveiling a series of alternative budgets across different areas, such as housing and justice over the next few weeks ahead of the Budget on October 10.

Sinn Fein is expected to top the polls after the next election and so is the most likely of all parties to be in government next time around.