Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 1997

Vol. 483 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Richard Bruton

Question:

487 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the benefits, if any, for which his Department affords preferentially to families or individuals who hold medical cards compared to the rest of the population. [21227/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I have recently announced that students who hold a current medical card or who are dependent on a parent or guardian who is the holder of a current medical card are not liable to pay entry fees for the second level certificate examinations from 1998 onwards.

Pupils who enrol in second level schools for the purpose of repeating the leaving certificate examination are liable to pay a course fee of £100. Pupils whose parents or guardians are the holders of a current medical card are exempt from payment of the course fee. Under the terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, eligible pupils may avail of transport, only on payment of the appropriate contribution for each term. Where the parents or legal guardians of eligible pupils are medical card holders, they may be excused the contribution in respect of such children. In designating schools as disadvantaged, the level of medical card holders among the families of the pupils in the school is one of several criteria-socio economic indicators used. The level of medical card holders is also used in selecting schools for inclusion in the breaking the cycle pilot project.