Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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284. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide figures of the average annual cost of a medical card; if he will provide a breakdown of the areas of spend, for example, GP, drugs and hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17040/17]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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285. To ask the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards held currently or the latest figure available; the number held at its peak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17041/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

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 was issued to Oireachtas members.