Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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567. To ask the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards in existence in the health service, by month, over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6089/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office which will follow up the matter with him.