Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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300. To ask the Minister for Health the earnings index that is used to update the median income used for setting the income threshold for GP cover; the period over which the index is measured; and the date during the year when the income threshold is revised. [38377/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the GP Agreement 2023, GP visit card was extended from all children under 6 years to all children under 8 years of age from August last year, and to those who earn up to the median household income fully from November last year. These expansions were estimated to provide eligibility to approximately an additional 500,000 people.

The median income differs by household composition – this is reflected in the varying basic rates used in calculating an individual’s qualifying financial threshold. An individual’s qualifying financial threshold is calculated by adding together three factors, the appropriate basic rate, an amount allocated for each dependent, and an amount allocated for allowable expenses (for example, rent, mortgage payments, and childcare costs).

To be eligible for a means-tested GP visit card the applicant’s weekly net income must be below their qualifying financial threshold. The qualifying threshold calculation takes into consideration the applicant’s particular expenses and number of dependents as well as their income, allowing for those who have a higher income but also experience high expenses to potentially qualify.

The CSO publishes statistics on median income by household composition based on the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) survey data. The appropriate basic rate amounts were increased under last year’s GP visit card eligibility expansion to reflect the levels indicated in that survey as being in the range for median household equivalised disposable income by age and household type. Disposable income is income after taxes and social transfers. Equivalised income allows comparison between individuals with varying family and household circumstances.

It was estimated that approximately 430,000 additional people would be eligible for a GP visit card under the median household income expansion. Uptake of eligibility for children aged 6 and 7 has been very strong, however uptake under the median income expansion has been lower than expected. A new public information campaign is currently underway to encourage GP visit card uptake.

While it has been less than a year since the median household income expansion fully commenced, my Department keeps the implementation of the expansion, including considerations regarding the appropriate basic rates used in calculating eligibility, under review.