Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people availing of general practitioner visit cards from County Meath since their inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24066/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The GP visit card was introduced in 2005 as a graduated benefit so 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 GP.

Since the beginning of 2005 substantial changes have been made to the way in which people's eligibility for a medical card is assessed and these apply equally to the assessment process for a GP visit card. The income guidelines have been increased by a cumulative 29% and in addition allowance is now made for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of mortgage/rent, childcare and travel to work costs. In June 2006 I agreed a further adjustment to the assessment guidelines for GP visit cards and these are now 50% higher than those in respect of medical cards.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for these benefits, it is the appropriate body to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.