Vol. 480 No. 6
274 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons on the third year of community employment schemes are losing their secondary benefits such as medical cards which they normally retain during the first two years; and if this will be reviewed as a matter of urgency. [14443/97]
The 1996 budget made provision whereby persons who have been unemployed for at least one year could retain their medical cards for the period of three years after entering employment. The budget provision covers medical card holders who have been unemployed for at least one year i.e. persons on the live register who take up paid insurable employment. These persons are deemed to meet the criteria for retaining their medical care for a period of three years. This measure is effective from the date of the 1996 budget, i.e., 23 January 1996. The provision also covers participants on approved schemes applicable to the long-term unemployed including community employment.
Arrangements which were in place prior to 23 January 1996 provided for persons who held medical cards while on the live register to retain the medical card for a period of two years after securing a placement on any of the schemes applicable to the long-term unemployed. I presume that these are the persons to whom the Deputy is referring. Since these persons were already on schemes prior to January 1996, they are not covered by the budget provision allowing for retention of a medical card for three years. However, after the expiry of the two year period of their entitlement, such persons would have their community employment income disregarded when their eligibility for a medical card is being assessed.
