Medical Card Application Numbers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Questions (541)

Gerry Adams

Question:

541. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the current number of applicants in counties Louth and Meath who are awaiting processing of medical card-general practitioner-only card applications; the number of GPs currently operating under medical card scheme within counties Louth and Meath, along with the number of GPs who have recently withdrawn their services under the scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being encountered by persons in accessing GP services under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53053/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.