Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the estimated annual cost per recipient of the medical card. [35915/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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On the basis of the figures contained in the 2004 annual report of the former General Medical Services (Payments) Board, now the Health Service Executive, shared services, primary care reimbursement service, the average annual cost in 2004 of providing general practitioner and pharmacy services, drugs and medicines per recipient of the medical card was €954.26 per person.

There would, of course, be other benefits to medical card holders under the dental and ophthalmic schemes. The estimate does not take account of fee increases which apply under the terms of the Labour Relations Commission's recommendations of 20 June 2005 and any additional costs which might result from future industrial relations negotiations.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 130: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the estimated annual cost per recipient of the general practitioner only card. [35916/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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On the basis of the figures contained in the 2004 annual report of the former General Medical Services (Payments) Board, now the Health Service Executive, shared services, primary care reimbursement service, it is estimated that the annual cost of providing general practitioner services to holders of the GP visit card is €261.53. The estimate does not take into account fee increases applied under the terms of the Labour Relations Commission's recommendations of 20 June 2005, the agreed registration fee of €35 in respect of the first 200,000 GP visit cards issued, or any additional costs which might result from future industrial relations negotiations.