General Medical Services Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Questions (712)

Seán Fleming

Question:

712. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost of increasing the weekly income limits for the general practitioner visit card by 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. [1572/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I can advise the Deputy that to estimate the costs of any of these measures would require information on the income position of the cohort of the population who do not currently qualify for a GP visit card. As this information is not held by the Department, it is not possible to assess the effect of any of the adjustments suggested.

As the Deputy will be aware, from mid 2015, the Government ensured that all children aged 5 and under and persons aged 70 or older can access a GP service without charges.