Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 1

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

129 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will have arrangements made to examine the case of persons (details supplied) in County Cork who are on a reduced rate of social welfare benefit and have not had their medical card renewed in view of the fact that a member of the family is at a special school, suffers from an acute ear ailment and is on medication; if he will expedite the examination of this case on compassionate grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4229/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

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. 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. Assessment procedures are also a matter for the chief executive officers.

I have had inquiries made of the Southern Health Board concerning this case and have been informed that the person's medical card was cancelled on 21 August 1996 as he had failed to satisfactorily answer a number of queries in relation to his means. In September 1996 a new application for a medical card was received by the health board. Following receipt of this application, the board requested specific information from the person concerned in order to determine his entitlement, or otherwise, to a medical card for himself and his dependants. To date this information has not been received by the health board.