asked the Minister for Health if she is prepared to direct or allow health boards to grant medical cards automatically to AnCO apprentices and to have them treated in the same way as third level education students.
Written Answers. - Granting of Medical Cards.
446.
The provisions governing eligibility for medical cards are laid down in section 45 of the Health Act, 1970, which states that the persons who have such eligibility are adult persons unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants, together with the dependants of such persons. Adult persons, in this context, are persons who are 16 years of age or older. AnCO apprentices, as well as third level students, who meet these criteria are eligible for medical cards.