Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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626. To ask the Minister for Health the numbers of persons in receipt of a carer's allowance; the number of these persons who are in receipt of a general practitioner card; the additional entitlements that a carer may be able to receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28830/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I understand that the questions in respect of the numbers in receipt of Carer's Allowance and the additional entitlements that a carer may be able to receive are being answered by the Department of Social Protection.

As of end June 2015, there are 244,171 persons in receipt of a general practitioner card. Eligibility for a medical card or GP visit card is determined by the HSE mainly by reference to income limits. Carer's Allowance is one of the income sources which are disregarded by the HSE in assessing an applicant's income. While the HSE seek an applicant to detail in the application form any social welfare payments being received, the identification of the number of GP visit card holders by payment type is not readily available.