Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason general practitioners are charging medical card holders for signing medical fitness forms in relation to drivers licence renewal, participation in fitness classes run by FÁS, and membership of golf clubs. [12152/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In making arrangements for the provision of publicly funded GP services, under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme , an agreement was negotiated between the Department of Health and Children and the GP representative body, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO). The provisions of this agreement took the form of the current GMS GP Capitation Contract. This contract is a treatment-based contract and gives effect to the statutory requirement to provide GP medical and surgical services without charge to eligible persons; this includes persons aged 70 and over, who are automatically entitled to a medical card. The contract stipulates that the fees paid to GMS GPs are not made in respect of certain certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences". As these non-treatment type services are outside the scope of the GMS GP contract, it is a matter between the GP and the person seeking the particular service to agree a fee.

While certificates for various applications are provided by medical practitioners, they are not a medical treatment service and are not considered a core aspect of public health service provision.