Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Card Guidelines.

Richard Bruton

Question:

138 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will issue guidelines to the health boards in relation to medical cards that would provide that all persons living at home with their parents who are on reduced rate unemployment assistance would qualify automatically for the medical card in the same way that persons on unemployment benefit automatically qualify.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

Under the Health Act, 1970 medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer of the appropriate health board are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants.

The Chief Executive Officers draw up guidelines in relation to income limits and to assessment criteria: however, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and a person who would not qualify on the basis of the guidelines may still be awarded a medical card if the Chief Executive Officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Persons aged between 16 and 25 years who are dependants of a person who is not a medical card holder are not normally entitled to a medical card except where they have an entitlement under EC regulations or where they are in receipt of a Disabled Person's Maintenance Allowance. The decision on whether or not a person is regarded as a dependant or as being financially independent is made by the Chief Executive Officer of the health board on the basis of the circumstances of the individual case.

I should stress that the position, as outlined above, applies equally to persons on unemployment assistance (whether at full or reduced rate) and to persons on unemployment benefit, and that there is no automatic right to a medical card in either case.

It is open to all persons to apply to the Chief Executive Officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship. I am satisfied that health boards give sympathetic consideration to such applications when the circumstances warrant it.