Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will assist a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [12913/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services qualify for a medical card, which entitles them to a range of health services free of charge. 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 did not qualify for a medical card, would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their GP.

The assessment of eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is statutorily a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and, with the exception of persons aged 70 and over, who have an automatic statutory entitlement to a medical card, is determined following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants (income and relevant outgoings). The GP visit card assessment threshold is 50% higher than the medical card threshold.

Since 2006, additional funding has been allocated to the HSE for the implementation of the Primary Care Strategy, which aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multidisciplinary teams of occupational therapists, general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, and others. Under the Towards 2016 agreement, the Government is committed to further increasing the number of Primary Care Teams on a phased basis between 2008 and 2011. Furthermore, as part of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 under the Disability Strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75 million in both 2006 and 2007, with a further €50 million provided in 2008. This funding includes moneys to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities.

As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for these benefits and services, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.