Vol. 460 No. 3
151 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to introduce new directives in relation to medical cards, principally to deal with those who find their weekly income marginally above the guidelines for eligibility for a medical card. [19222/95]
Limerick East): 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 drawn up by the chief executive officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. The income guidelines were increased with effect from 1 January on this basis. However, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, that person 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.
