John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the medical card guideline increases over the past ten years; if data of fact and comparison can be outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19531/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Since the beginning of 2005 I have introduced a number of significant changes to the manner in which assessment for medical cards are undertaken. The assessment guidelines have been increased by a cumulative 29% and more so in the case of dependent children. Applications are now considered on the basis of income net of tax and PRSI and allowance is made for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of mortgage/rent, childcare and travel to work. Also in 2005 I introduced the GP visit card as a graduated benefit, with the specific purpose that people on moderate and lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card, would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their general practitioner.

The range of GP services available to holders of a GP visit card is the same as is available to persons who hold a medical card. The guidelines used by the HSE to assess applications for GP visit cards were initially 25% higher than those used in assessing applications for medical cards and from June, 2006, the differential increased to 50%. The aforementioned changes in the assessment of medical cards also apply to GP visit cards.

Between January 2005 (1,145,083) and June 2007 (1,243,466) an additional 98,383 people have medical cards. As at 27th June 2007, 77,844 persons held a GP visit card. Thus since January 2005, an additional 176,227 people have free access to GP services.

My Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) monitor the number of medical cards and GP visit cards on an ongoing basis and the need for changes to the guidelines is kept under review, having regard to factors such as changes in income levels generally, the nature of typical household outgoings and also changes to the various social welfare schemes.

Prior to 2005 decisions to increase the medical card assessment guidelines were a matter for the former health board Chief Executive Officers. Increases which were applied were generally in line with changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The purpose of this was to ensure that people whose general circumstances had not changed did not lose entitlement. It did not constitute a linkage with the social welfare system. Under the current assessment arrangements, persons whose sole income is derived from Department of Social and Family Affairs payments or HSE payments, even if these exceed the assessment guidelines, qualify for a medical card.

I set out below a table for the Deputy showing medical card assessment guidelines increases over the past 10 years.