Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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463. To ask the Minister for Health if a general practitioner visit card can be considered for family carers who provide full-time care to family members but are not in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29277/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that many persons in receipt of the Carer's Support Grant already qualify for a GP visit card as the Carer's Support Grant is paid automatically to persons in receipt of Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit.

However, I note the Carer's Support Grant can also be paid to certain other carers providing full time care who may not be in receipt of the Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit.

The Deputy may be aware that the Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” contains a commitment to “Extend free GP care to carers in receipt of the Carer’s Support Grant”. It is noted that this commitment will be delivered over the lifetime of the Government.