Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the actions she will take to publicise the availability of the general practitioner only medical card in view of the small take up of the card since it's introduction; her plans for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31152/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The GP visit card initiative was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on moderate incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their GP.

Since the introduction of the GP Visit Card, the HSE has conducted two national media advertising campaigns to promote the benefit. The Executive has made available on its website 'www.hse.ie' a calculator which will help people to get an indication as to whether they might qualify. The HSE continues to publicise all of these change to encourage people to apply and has made the application process as simple as possible. 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 regarding the GP visit card and related primary care schemes.