asked the Minister for Health if he will recommend to health authorities that old age pensioners should automatically qualify for medical cards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards for Old Age Pensioners.
23.
I presume that the Deputy's question refers to non-contributory old age pensioners. I am pleased to announce that all health authorities have now agreed to grant medical cards automatically, on application, to persons in receipt of non-contributory old age and widows' pensions.
Why is it necessary to confine this to non-contributory old age pensioners? Surely contributory old age pensioners are necessitous in so far as their income is likewise very small and should also be treated to this very simple facility, which, if I am not mistaken, was first mooted by the distinguished predecessor of the present Minister for Health, who is now Minister for Education?
I said that medical cards would be granted automatically, on application, to non-contributory old age and widowed pensioners. I do not think it could be agreed that such cards should automatically be granted to contributory pensioners, although many contributory pensioners might be entitled to it. However, non-contributory pensioners have already gone through a means test and that is why it can be done by every health authority without question.
The Minister may have sent directions. Are they carried out?
To the best of my knowledge, yes.
To the best of my knowledge, no.
If the Deputy will furnish me with the relevant information, it will be investigated.
I shall, of course.
(Cavan): All recipients of non-contributory old age pensions and widows' and orphans' pensions at any level are entitled to a health card. Supposing the maximum is 47/6 and supposing a person is in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension of 15/-: I assume he is entitled to——
That is a separate question.
No, it refers to the old age pension.
(Cavan): With respect, it is not a separate question.
The answer I have already given——
We cannot canvas the merits or demerits of this.
It is only a matter of clearing this up. This inference may be that only those in receipt of the maximum pension will get the medical card automatically after a stringent means test. We want to know if people with 12/6 and 15/- a week automatically qualify.
That is a separate matter.
This is what I said in the reply——
People in this category may sometimes be backward. May we take it that the Minister will bring it to the notice of each county manager so that he will try to assist those concerned and make known to them the facilities available?
(Cavan): Perhaps I framed my question incorrectly. Arising out of the Minister's reply, will the Minister recommend to health authorities that any person in receipt of a non-contributory old age pension or a widows' and orphans' pension, at any point of the scale, will receive a health card?
That has already been done.
Mr. O'Malley
And if the county manager refuses in such a case, he should be removed. That is what I said.
(Cavan): I am thankful to the last Minister because he did help.