Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 832: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of full medical cards available on a county basis; the number of doctor only cards granted on a county basis; if she has satisfied herself that the system is working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30168/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As aspects of the Deputy's question, concerning medical card and GP visit card numbers by county, relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004 my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

As the Deputy will be aware, a number of changes have been made to the medical card and GP visit card schemes since 2005. The income guidelines used to assess eligibility for the medical and GP visit card have been increased by a cumulative 29%. The assessment of means is now based on income after tax and PRSI and full account is taken of reasonable expenses in respect of rent/mortgage payments, childcare and travel to work. These changes have had the effect of further reducing the threshold at which a person would qualify for the medical card or the GP visit card. In June 2006 I agreed with the HSE a further adjustment to the income assessment guidelines used for GP visit cards and these are now 50% higher than those used for medical cards.

These changes have meant that more individuals and families have become eligible, the assessment process has been made fairer and administrative arrangements have been simplified and streamlined. A standard application form is now available, the HSE website allows prospective applicants to check their eligibility and the HSE has engaged in publicity and advertising campaigns to make people aware of the changes and to encourage applications.

The HSE has informed me that, in addition, a specific programme of work is being undertaken, focused on further modernisation of the administrative and operational arrangements for these and other related primary care schemes. This is intended to make them more customer-friendly, administratively streamlined, fair, accountable and IT-enabled. This programme of improvement is also focused on ensuring that the schemes are administered in a standardised way across the country. An overall Steering Group has been established to oversee the programme, with regional groups to implement each aspect of the modernisation agenda in a standardised manner within their respective regions.