asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that many local authorities took into consideration the 12 per cent increase in workers' incomes in relation to the granting of medical cards, as a result of which numerous workers and others have had their medical cards cancelled, and are now worse off than before the increase was granted; and why local authorities were not instructed to raise the income assessment for medical card purposes so as to avoid the cancellation of such cards because of an increase in wages, which was to cover the general increase in the cost of living.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cancellation of Medical Cards.
3.
The percentage of the population covered by General Medical Services Cards at the end of each quarter in the past year was ; September, 1963— 29.4 per cent; December, 1963—29.0 per cent; March, 1964—29.2 per cent; June, 1964—29.0 per cent; September, 1964—29.3 per cent.
It is obvious, therefore, that the position is not as stated in the Deputy's question; otherwise the percentage of the population covered by medical cards would have shown a marked drop over the period. Besides, from the information available to my Department it is clear that few, if any, persons could have lost their medical cards as a result of the ninth round increase in wages.
As regards the second part of the question, section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, requires health authorities to provide, without charge, general medical services for persons "who are unable, by their own industry or other lawful means" to provide the services for themselves or their dependants. The determination of eligibility for the services is a question for the appropriate health authority and from inquiries I have made I am satisfied that an income scale is not used in making such determination, each case being considered objectively and all the relevant factors being taken into account. Even, therefore, if I had the statutory power to issue an instruction such as is suggested by the Deputy, which I have not, I do not feel that I would have any justification for doing so.