Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Liz McManus

Question:

124 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the conditions required when an EU national who is within the income limit applies for a medical card; the residency requirement, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8459/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the health boards as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility, i.e. medical card holders, or limited eligibility for health services. Health boards normally regard a person as "ordinarily resident" if he/she satisfies the health board that it is his/her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year.

Arrangements under EU regulations supersede the provisions of the Irish eligibility system in respect of certain categories of nationals of other EU countries. Health boards are obliged to provide health services on the same basis as medical card holders to these people on behalf of their home state, which retains responsibility for the costs involved in the provision of the services.

Social security pensioners of other EU states who are not covered by an Irish social welfare pension, as recipient or dependant, and who are not employed or self-employed here, are entitled to receive health services free of charge and are normally issued with a medical card. Persons resident here who are insured workers in the territory of another EU state normally receive a medical card also. On production of the relevant EU liaison form unemployed persons from other EU states seeking work here are eligible to receive a medical card for a short period of time, usually about three months.