Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people eligible for the full medical card and the general practitioner only card to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17704/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Details of the numbers of medical card and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive. The figures are provided on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database e.g. following a review of an applicant's circumstances.

As of 1st June 2007, 1,243,466 people held medical cards. This is 98,383 more people than in January 2005 (1,145,083). As of 1st June 2007, 68,208 people held GP Visit Cards. Approximately 31% of the current national population qualify for free GP services.