Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Card Eligibility.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

136 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health, in light of the Government's commitment that family income supplement payments will be disregarded in assessing medical card entitlements, if he will take steps to ensure that medical card income guidelines are adjusted so that families of a particular size and income level will be treated equally irrespective of the source of their income; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

Medical card income guidelines are not binding and the chief executive officers of health boards take all relevant circumstances into account in determining eligibility for a medical card. Families of the same size and income level may be accorded a different eligibility status because of differing medical circumstances. In relation to the family income supplement I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his Questions (Nos. 77 and 78 on 1 May 1990) on this issue.