Vol. 417 No. 2
129 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been refused a medical card even though he has been on unemployment assistance for the past number of years except for 12 weeks work which he had between May and August 1991, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The issue of a medical card is a matter solely for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board.
I have made inquiries of the Southern Health Board regarding the case mentioned by the Deputy. The person in question had a medical card from August 1990 up to January 1992. The health board reviewed the position in January of this year and found that the individual's average income during 1991 was some £26 per week in excess of the guidelines for eligibility for a medical card. The income was made up of the unemployment assistance he had received in that year plus the income from the period of employment from May to August of 1991.
Following a further review of this person's eligibility, taking into account his current employment status, the board have recently decided to issue a medical card to him.
All health boards review the position of medical card holders from time to time, having particular regard to the income of the individual concerned and the guidelines which are issued regarding eligibility. The Southern Health Board have indicated that the matter will similarly be kept under review in this particular case.
