Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce a prescription charge for medical card holders; the level at which this charge will be set; the revenue expected to be raised from same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45633/09]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce a prescription charge for medical card holders; the way in which such a charge would be collected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45568/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce prescription charges for holders of medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45524/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce prescription charges for holders of medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45526/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce prescription charges for holders of medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45528/09]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce prescription charges for holders of medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45530/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 42, 55, 57, 72 and 97 together.

At the moment 1,461,207 people have medical cards. This has increased by 109,087 on last year.

The number of prescriptions issued under the GMS has increased from 12.79 million in 2004 to 15.648 million in 2008. The number of items dispensed under the GMS has also increased from 35 million items in 2004 to 48.21 million items in 2008. The number of items per prescription has increased from 2.74 items in 2004 to 3.08 items in 2008.

The 'Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes' recommended that a co-payment of €5 be introduced for each prescription under the Medical Card and Long Term Illness Scheme. It estimated that a charge of €5 would raise €70 million in a full year.