James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost of means testing the over 70s medical card per person and, in total, for the current number of over 70s medical cards issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34328/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of over 70s medical cards issued for each year since the over 70s medical card became available; the number of such cards issued to date in 2008; the total fees awarded to general practitioners for those specific medical cards; the fees paid to date in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34331/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 111 together.

All persons aged 70 and over have had a statutory entitlement to a medical card since July 2001 and, therefore, it was not necessary to assess means. Information provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department indicates that on 30th September 2008 there were 138,269 persons aged 70 and over who had a medical card which attracts the higher GP capitation fee of €640. A GP capitation payment of between €139.59 and €244.64 (depending on the person's age, gender and distance from their residence to the GP surgery) applies in respect of a medical card for a person reaching the age of 70 years who previously held a medical card.

Details of the number of medical card holders are provided to my Department by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on a net basis showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database. The HSE has provided the following information in relation to the number of higher GP capitation medical card holders at the end of each year from 2001 to 2007.

As the information regarding the total fees awarded to general practitioners in respect of those specific medical cards is not provided by the Health Service Executive to my Department as a matter of routine, the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive has been requested to arrange to address these matters and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.