Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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750. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the qualifying criteria for a general GP visit card; if patients experiencing long-term illnesses that require frequent GP visits could be added to this criterion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9626/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Eligibility for a GP visit card for those aged between 8 and 69 years of age is primarily based on financial assessment. The qualifying threshold calculation takes into consideration the applicant’s particular expenses as well as their income, allowing for those who have a higher income but also experience high expenses to potentially qualify. All children under 8 years of age and persons aged 70 years and over are eligible for a GP visit card on the basis of their age.

The granting of eligibility through means testing is considered an objective, fair and equitable approach to granting eligibility to persons with lower incomes.

In addition, persons who do not qualify for a medical card or a GP visit card based on financial assessment may qualify for a card on a discretionary basis if they have high medical expenses.

Further information on how the HSE assesses GP visit card eligibility and information regarding persons who are automatically eligible for a GP visit card is available from the HSE website.

It should be noted that under the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme, patients with eligible conditions receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. In addition, there has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults.