Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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627. To ask the Minister for Health when the scheme for GP-only cards for households earning under €46,000 per year will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22577/23]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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734. To ask the Minister for Health when the commitment given in Budget 2023 to give GP medical cards to those with an income of less than the median wage will be implemented. [23193/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 627 and 734 together.

The Government is committed to the extension of GP visit card eligibility to those who earn the median household income or less, as announced in Budget 2023.

In total, approximately 400,000 additional individuals are estimated to become eligible under this expansion. This measure will remove the cost of accessing GP care from those for whom cost is most likely to prevent access; helping reduce the cost of living for young adults and young families in particular.

The necessary planning and administrative development work to provide for the expansion is well advanced in preparation for the commencement of the expansion. Officials from my Department and the HSE are currently engaged in intensive discussions with the IMO regarding the expansion and in particular the IMO concerns on the impact of increased eligibility on general practice and the best use of the additional funding provided in Budget 2023 to support capacity in general practice.

Information in relation to the commencement of the expansion and operational information will be provided when available.