andMr. Conlon asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the decline in the income of farmers, he will lower the multiplier used in assessing their income for health contributions and for medical cards.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Farmers' Income Assessment.
8.
Applications from farmers for medical cards are determined by health boards on the basis of a factual assessment of income rather than by the use of a multiplier.
The question of any changes that it may be considered desirable or necessary to make in the regulations made under the Health Contributions Act, 1979, including matters relating to the use of a multiplier, is at present under consideration. Any proposals for the amendment of the regulations will be submitted to the Oireachtas during the present session.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister agree that the multiplier system can be quite misleading and that at present this system for assessing the amount under the Health Contributions Act is most unfair to farmers and is extracting more from them than they should pay in equity?
In Cavan, the Deputy's county, the percentage of the population covered by medical cards is 44 per cent while in Dublin, in contrast, the figure is 20 per cent. In the western counties 65 per cent or 66 per cent of the population are covered by medical cards. This indicates that there is a good availability of medical cards throughout the farming areas. The concept of the multiplier is a matter at which I am currently looking.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Minister obviously did not listen to or hear my supplementary question. The Minister has already told us that medical cards are granted on a factual assessement, but I suggested to him that in regard to contributions under the Act the multiplier can be misleading and is at present most unfair to farmers.
The question of the multiplier will be reviewed this year in relation to charges in health contributions and I am considering the matter.