Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons over 70 years in receipt of a medical card; the number who have lost their cards on income grounds since means testing was introduced; the estimated annual savings as a result of the means testing decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35601/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Most recent figures supplied by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department show 343,399 medical card holders aged 70 or over as at 1st September 2010. Following the enactment of the Health Act 2008, the HSE wrote to all medical card holders aged 70 or over in January 2009 advising them to complete a return slip if they were over the threshold for a medical card. Approximately, 12,000 clients responded and their cards were removed from the Executive's medical card register. In addition, approximately 5,000 medical cards for persons aged 70 or over were removed from the medical card register in 2009 as part of the HSE's medical card data quality exercise.

It had been estimated that 20,000 persons aged 70 or over would lose eligibility to a medical card under this measure, resulting in savings in the region of €20 million. A further €16 million in savings was targeted through the introduction of a revised capitation fee in respect of medical card holders aged 70 or over living in the community. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the actual annual savings resulting from the withdrawal of automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 or over.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number and types of medical cards - full, over 70 years and general practitioner-only - currently in issue on the most recent date available; if figures are available nationally or for each region; and the number of cards withdrawn in the past few years. [35602/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Details of the number of medical cards and GP visit cards are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures are provided 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, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The most recent figures provided to my Department by the HSE reflect the position as at 1st September 2010 and show 1,578,613 medical card holders and 106,373 GP visit card holders on that date. There were 343,399 medical card holders and 236 GP visit card holders aged 70 and over as at 1st September 2010.

The HSE has produced National Medical Card / GP Visit Card Assessment Guidelines for its staff and these are regularly updated in order to provide a clear framework for decision makers to assist them in making reasonable, consistent and equitable decisions when assessing people under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme.

The HSE with my full support, decided to centralise the processing of all medical cards and GP visit card applications and renewals to its Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin. In January 2009, the PCRS took over the processing of all medical card applications for persons aged 70 or over. In September 2009, the processing of all applications from two Local Health Offices in Dublin transferred to the PCRS. The HSE has advised that when fully implemented, the initiative to centralise the processing of all medical card and GP visit card applications and renewals will ensure a consistent and equitable application of eligibility and service provision.

My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the number of card holders by region and the number of cards withdrawn in recent years.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Health and Children to examine the case of withdrawal of medical card from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35603/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a full medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.. [35606/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.