Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to her Department of the extra number of people who will qualify for medical cards in 2009 above the number anticipated for; the amount of money which will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35792/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The most recent figures provided by the Health Service Executive to my Department show that there were 1,438,118 medical card holders and 93,623 GP visit card holders on 1 September 2009. Since the start of 2009, the number of persons covered by a medical card has increased by 85,998 and the number of persons covered by a GP visit card has increased by 8,077. In its service plan for 2009, the HSE estimated that the year-end figures for medical cards and GP visit cards would be 1,423,830 and 142,148 respectively.

Based on the monthly statistics supplied by the HSE to my Department in its monthly service plan reports, it is estimated that the year-end figures will be in the region of 1,491,000 medical cards, representing an annual increase of 139,000, or 58,000 more medical cards than estimated in the service plan; and 98,300 GP visit cards, representing an annual increase of 12,754, or 48,800 fewer GP visit cards than estimated in the service plan. This is primarily due to the downturn in the economy and the associated rise in the live register, which is resulting in more people becoming eligible for a medical card. To date, the HSE's monthly service plan reports show that the medical card and GP visit card monthly expenditure has been within the overall expenditure projected for the General Medical Services scheme. My Department and the HSE will continue to monitor this situation as the year progresses.