Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of full medical cards available on a county basis; if she is satisfied that the system is working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33832/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced 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.

Between January 2005 (1,145,083) and November 2007 (1,270,873) an additional 125,790 people have medical cards. As at 1st November 2007, 74,671 persons held a GP visit card. Thus since January 2005, an additional 200,461 people have free access to GP services.

The Programme for Government commits to the following: Indexing the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage; Doubling of the income limit eligibility of parents of children under 6 years of age, and trebling them for parents of children under 18 years of age with an intellectual disability; Allowing people with disabilities to work without losing key essential medical card cover after 3 years; Implementation of an annual publicity campaign and making applications easier so as to increase uptake amongst those who are eligible for Medical Cards and GP Visit Cards.

At present, my Department is carrying out a data collection exercise and a review of the eligibility criteria for medical cards and this work is expected to be completed by autumn next year. I am committed to making further progress in this area as soon as that review is completed. Detailed statistical data in relation to the number of medical cards issued on a county basis is held by the Health Service Executive. Therefore, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to provide the details requested directly to the Deputy.