Medical Cards.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2006

Tuesday, 5 December 2006

Ceisteanna (134)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

148 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioner only cards that have been issued; the number of GP cards waiting to be issued; the breakdown of GP cards per Health Service Executive area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41380/06]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The most recent information provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department shows that 48,761 GP visit cards have been issued as at 29th November, 2006. More detailed statistical data provided by the HSE to my Department and correct as of 1st November, 2006 contains county-by-county figures for the number of GP visit cards issued and this information is in the table.

My Department has requested the HSE to provide the Deputy with the current figures regarding the number of GP visit cards waiting to be issued and the breakdown of GP visit cards per HSE Area.

HSE — Shared Services

Primary Care Reimbursement Service
Position regarding medical cards as at 1st November 2006
Regions	Number of Family Units as at 1st November 2006	Number of Eligible Persons on Medical Cards as at 1st November 2006	Number of Eligible Persons on GP Visit Cards as at 1st November 2006	Number of Eligible Persons as at 1st November 2006 as of Population (2006 Census)	Number of Eligible Persons 1st October 2006 as of Population (2002 Census)	Population
				%	%
Eastern Region
Dublin	198,621	288,636	4,502	24.71	24.40	1,186,159
Kildare	26,581	40,597	967	22.34	21.97	186,075
Wicklow	20,470	29,588	945	24.17	23.74	126,330
Total	245,672	358,821	6,414	24.37	24.04	1,498,564
Midland
Laois	12,233	17,980	942	28.24	28.00	67,012
Longford	8,988	12,988	577	39.48	39.29	34,361
Offaly	14,149	20,525	1,021	30.52	30.42	70,604
Westmeath	15,094	22,176	948	29.12	28.77	79,403
Total	50,464	73,669	3,488	30.69	30.47	251,380
Mid-Western
Clare	22,225	33,152	841	30.68	30.57	110,800
Limerick	37,219	53,537	1,216	29.78	29.55	183,863
Tipperary NR	14,515	20,909	575	32.56	32.16	65,988
Total	73,959	107,598	2,632	30.56	30.34	360,651
North Eastern
Cavan	13,573	20,580	971	33.69	32.84	63,961
Louth	24,449	37,710	1,635	35.48	34.65	110,894
Meath	21,866	32,086	1,733	20.80	20.25	162,621
Monaghan	11,140	16,352	766	30.67	30.63	55,816
Total	71,028	106,728	5,105	28.44	27.83	393,292
North Western
Donegal	43,078	70,940	2,832	50.20	49.75	146,956
Leitrim	7,797	11,681	457	42.09	41.62	28,837
Sligo	13,870	19,716	878	33.84	33.31	60,863
Total	64,745	102,337	4,167	45.00	44.53	236,656
South Eastern
Carlow	11,055	16,939	1,085	35.71	35.10	50,471
Kilkenny	14,831	20,952	1,096	25.23	25.00	87,394
Tipperary SR	21,013	29,696	1,468	37.52	37.02	83,052
Waterford	25,923	37,955	1,239	36.31	36.12	107,942
Wexford	28,045	42,766	1,743	33.82	33.62	131,615
Total	100,867	148,308	6,631	33.65	33.34	460,474
Southern
Cork	99,798	137,820	6,118	29.93	29.73	480,909
Kerry	30,539	42,325	1,752	31.57	31.67	139,616
Total	130,337	180,145	7,870	30.30	30.17	620,525
Western
Galway	47,542	68,739	2,950	31.03	30.83	231,035
Mayo	33,507	48,735	1,884	40.94	40.75	123,648
Roscommon	14,788	21,264	885	37.73	37.19	58,700
Total	95,837	138,738	5,719	34.95	34.70	413,383
Grand Total	832,909	1,216,344	42,026	29.71	29.41	4,234,925

The population figures for each area and nationally above are taken from the 2006 census.

HSE — National Shared Services, Primary Care Reimbursement Service, Exit 5, M50, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.