Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the renewal of driving licences for those over 70 years of age; if she will confirm that there is no fee; the criteria involved; the situation regarding general practitioners charging a fee; the options open to a general practitioner; if a general practitioner can refer an applicant further and which medical or other person can approve an applicant; what is the MCLIT qualification and the person who appointed this body to approve applicants; her views on whether it is appropriate for a free licence to be issued and professionals, for example general practitioners, to charge €50 and non-medical consultants to charge €145; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34267/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The contract between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and general practitioners under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme stipulates that fees are not paid to GPs by the HSE in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".

Consultation fees charged by general practitioners and consultants to private patients and to GMS patients outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees. My colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation has also called on providers of professional services in the private sector to adjust their fees in line with the reductions in fees of those providing such services in the public sector. I should add that General Practitioners who hold General Medical Services (GMS) contracts with the Health Service Executive (HSE) must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders in respect of routine treatment.