152 Deputy Christy O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of medical cards provided to children for the years 2004 to 2009, inclusive, broken down per year. [47434/09]

153 Deputy Christy O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of providing medical cards to children for the years 2004 to 2009, inclusive, broken down per year. [47435/09]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together.

Details of the number of medical card and GP visit card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures are provided on a net basis, showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. As the information sought by the Deputy is not provided by the HSE to my Department as a matter of routine, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address these matters and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.