The implementation of the 1996 budget provision concerning the retention of medical cards by persons who have been on the live register for at least 12 months who take up paid insurable employment and also, to participants on approved schemes aimed at the long-term unemployed is a matter for health board chief executive officers, who have statutory responsibility for the administration of the medical card scheme.
Information of the nature sought by the Deputy is not normally held by my Department and health boards do not record such information on an ongoing basis. I am advised, however, that health boards are in the process of changing the medical card records system in a way which will enable them, in the future, to identify the number of long-term unemployed persons who retain their cards on taking up employment.
The report of the Joint Department of Health and Children-Health Board Working Group on the clarification of the guidelines on eligibility for medical cards particularly as they relate to the budget 1996 provision has been approved by health board chief executive officers. The working group is now in the process of preparing revised guidelines which will address the issues in the report. The new guidelines will be made available to all relevant front line health board staff and interested voluntary organisations. My Department will work with the other relevant Departments and agencies to ensure that the public are made aware of them.
