Vol. 433 No. 7
33 Ms. O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to widen the eligibility requirements for medical cards to the children of all single parents who are working; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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.
Income guidelines are available to assist chief executive officers in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with the Consumer Price Index. However, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and health boards have discretion to issue a medical card if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this.
While I am of course anxious that every person who is in genuine need of a medical card should receive one, I do not think that it is justifiable to grant a medical card to any particular group without any reference to their means.
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.
