asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there will be uniformity in the application of the means test in the granting of medical cards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards.
73.
The application of the means test in the granting of the medical cards is a matter for the chief executive officer of each health board. However, as I indicated in my reply to Deputy O'Connell on 28th March, 1973, a substantial degree of uniformity in the guidelines governing eligibility exists throughout the country.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary received complaints from people in the various health board areas regarding a lack of uniformity in this matter? The human element, the assessment of means, is left to the home assistance officers. In view of this, would the Parliamentary Secretary devise some method whereby his Department would give some guidelines that would eliminate some of the things that are happening? For instance, in some areas the ownership of a car means that a medical card is not issued to a person.
Like every other Deputy, the Parliamentary Secretary comes across those cases from time to time. With regard to uniformity of guidelines governing eligibility, I can only quote what the Minister for Health said on 28th March, 1973, namely, that while there are variations he proposes to consider the matter in detail in the near future.
I liked what the Minister for Health said in regard to recipients of social welfare benefits, especially the non-contributory benefits. However, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, as mentioned in question No. 62, there are health areas where such recipients are not in receipt of medical cards and, in fact, have been refused medical cards when they apply? Surely this is something that should be remedied?
They should not have to go through two means tests. I agree with the Deputy on that.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary if he is aware that people in the social welfare non-contributory category who have applied for medical cards have been refused them?
The Minister for Health and myself are taking a personal interest in this matter. I should like to assure the Deputy on that point.
Can the Deputy state for how long this practice has been going on?