Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the number of medical card numbers has fluctuated over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41519/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) within the HSE operates the General Medical Services scheme which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended.

The following table indicates the number of medical cards as at 1st January for the past five years:

The figures provided also include discretionary medical card figures.

It should also be noted that the PCRS publish a number of reports in relation to medical card and GP visit card eligibility on a monthly basis. These reports can be accessed online at www.hse.ie.