Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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472. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2019 of expanding access to free general practitioner care through a 10% increase in the weekly income thresholds for general practitioner visit cards; and the full year cost of same. [42319/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2019 provided for a 10% increase in the assessment threshold in respect of means-tested GP visit cards. This change comes into effect from 31st March 2019. The cost of this measure will be dependent on a number of factors, including the number of additional applications made to the HSE, the timescale within which these are made and the number of applicants who are found to qualify for this benefit. Funding of €20 million in respect of the measure is being included in the HSE's allocation for 2019.