Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 5

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

258 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount paid out in doctors' fees in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 under the medical card scheme; and the number of medical card holders in the scheme in each of those years. [15127/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

Year	Doctors' Fees	Eligible personscovered
	£m
1997	67.95	1,219,852
1998	80.49	1,183,554
1999	79.91	1.164,187
2000	102.11	1,148,055

The above does not include moneys paid to GPs in the GMS scheme, under the heading of allowances, for matters such as study leave, practice development and rural practice etc.