asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing general medical services for those veterans of the War of Independence who are not already in possession of medical service cards.
Written Answers. - Medical Card Eligibility.
131.
Veterans of the War of Independence are not identifiable as such among the general population of medical card holders. The information sought by the Deputy is not therefore available. The determination of eligibility for medical card services is a statutory function of the chief executive officer of each health board under the Health Act, 1970.
Medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the CEO, could not provide general practitioner medical services for themselves and their dependants from their own resources without undue hardship. The current income guidelines for medical card eligibility make special provision for elderly persons and this would tend to be to the advantage of the veterans referred to.