3701. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there are supports to cover the cost of medical exams and eye tests for drivers over the age of 75 in order to renew their driver licence; if these are covered on the medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62354/26]

GPs are private practitioners. Most GPs hold contract(s) with the HSE for the provision of certain health services without charge, such as for the provision of GP care to medical card and GP visit card holders under the GMS contract.

Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients, persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card, with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Eligible persons are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.

The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. The contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract.

Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patient.

Where the requirement for a medical report arises from an obligation imposed by another body or Minister, queries regarding the provision of supports to cover the cost of that service should be directed to the relevant body or Minister.