asked the Minister for Health whether he will instruct the health boards in the assessment of the means of applicants for medical cards to introduce regulations allowing for (a) the cost of paying hire-purchase instalments on cars (b) transport to work and (c) loan repayments on houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Medical Card Eligibility.
7.
In assessing eligibility for medical cards all health boards allow, as a deduction from gross income, outgoings on the applicant's house, in excess of £2 per week.
Outside the main urban areas health boards also make allowance for reasonable expenses incurred in travelling to and from work. It is a matter for the chief executive officer to determine if, in a particular case, the hire-purchase payments on a car would be allowed as a deduction from income.