Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when an application for the renewal of a medical card will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10378/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the assessment of applications for medical cards. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer for the executive's mid-western area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her response to the advice received by the IMO that the introduction of the yellow pack free GP cards are a change in the GPs contract; the way in which she intends to resolve this impasse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10393/05]

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 271: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the doctor-only medical cards in view of the IMOs attitude to their introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10689/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 271 together.

The necessary legislation to allow members of the public to apply for the new "doctor visit" cards has been enacted. Funding of €50 million required to introduce this development in 2005 has been made available to the Health Service Executive. The objective of this measure is to use resources to benefit as many people on low incomes as possible, in particular families, in order to take away any worries that parents may have about the cost of bringing their children to the doctor.

The services which general practitioners will provide to people who qualify for the "doctor visit" card will be the same as those provided to people who presently hold medical cards. Therefore, there will be no change in the provisions of the current general medical services general practitioner contract. The Health Service Executive has put in place the necessary administrative arrangements for this measure and has offered to meet with the Irish Medical Organisation on these arrangements on a number of occasions, and it remains available.