Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the mechanism available to a medical card holder to obtain a DNA test to determine parenthood; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27840/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, medical card holders are entitled to general practitioner services from General Practitioners who hold a GMS contract with the Health Service Executive (HSE), and to a range of prescribed medicines free of charge. The GMS contract is a diagnosis and treatment contract and gives effect to the statutory requirement of the HSE to provide General Practitioner medical and surgical services without charge to eligible persons. DNA testing is not covered under the GMS Scheme and I have no plans for this procedure to be provided free of charge to GMS patients.