Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the latest figures for those in receipt of medical cards and general practitioner only cards; the number of cards issued to date in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34679/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Details of the number of medical card and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures are provided on a net basis, showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The most recent figures provided by the HSE to my Department reflect the position on 1st September 2010 and show 1,578,613 medical card holders and 110,297 GP visit card holders on that date. On 1st January 2010, the number of medical card holders was 1,478,560 and the number of GP visit card holders was 98,325, giving a net increase of 100,053 medical card holders and 11,972 GP visit card holders from 1st January to 1st September 2010.