Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding plans for free general practitioner visit cards for under fives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52190/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, medical cards are provided to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means of the applicant and his/her dependants.

In 2005, the GP Visit Card was introduced as a graduated benefit, so that people on lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card, would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their GP. Where a person’s application for a medical card is unsuccessful, the application is then automatically considered to determine whether the person is entitled to a GP visit card. The assessment income threshold for GP visit cards was initially 25% higher than for the medical card. In June 2006, the differential was doubled to 50%. It is the Government’s intention to extend free GP services to the entire population during the course of this Government.