Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 1972

Vol. 263 No. 8

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

343.

Mr. Tully

asked the Minister for Health if he will give the income limits below which medical cards can be issued in each health board region, giving each category separately; and the date on which the limits were fixed.

Minister for Health (Mr. Childers)

The information sought by the Deputy is set out below in tabular form.

The limits for the Midland, Southern, Western, Mid-Western and North-Western Health Board areas were fixed with effect from January, 1972. The limits for the North-Eastern Health Board applied from February, 1972, and those for the South-Eastern Health Board from May, 1972. The limits for the Eastern Health Board date from August, 1972.

Following is the statement:

Health Board	Weekly Income
Single Person Living Alone	Single Person Living with Family	Married Couple	Allowance per Child	Allowance per outgoings on House	Other Allowance
1. Eastern	£13	£11	£16	£1	Excess over £2 per week
2. North-Eastern	£10	£10	£15	£1	Excess over £2 per week
3. South-Eastern	£10£12 for single person with dependant children)	£8	£15	£1.25	Rent/Rates over £2 per week.Loan/Rates over£4 per week.	Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work.
4. Midland	£10	£10	£15	£1	Excess over £2 per week.	Reasonable expenses necessarily incurred in travelling to work.
5. Southern	£13	£10	£16.50	£0.75	Excess over £1.25 per week.	£2.25 for adult dependant with no income. £1 per week for married persons living in Cork City who were holders of medical cards, on 31st December, 1971.
6. Western	£8	£7	£15	£1	Excess over £2 per week.	Cost of car for work; transport costs on merits.
7. Mid-Western	£10	£8	£16	£1	Excess over £1 per week.
8. North-Western	£10	£8	£16	£1	Excess over £2 per week.	Cost of car for work use.

NOTE:— Persons in receipt of the following pensions and allowances under the Social Welfare and Health Acts are regarded as eligible for medical card without any further assessment of means:— Old Age (Care) Allowance; Old Age (Non-Contributory) Pension; Widows' (Non-Contributory) Pension; Orphans' (Non-Contributory) Pension; Deserted Wife's Allowance; Blind Pension.