Vol. 506 No. 5
163 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health and Children the benefits and schemes available for carers who are looking after spouses or other family members who have suffered a brain haemorrhage and need constant care and attention; and if these benefits are means tested. [15920/99]
The Deputy will accept that the challenge to a health board in situations such as that outlined is to use the powers and services available to it to provide a package of support which will best meet the needs of both the person who is ill and the carer. Depending on the specific circumstances, this package would include elements of support from public health nurses, home helps, respite care and relevant voluntary organisations.
The Deputy will also be aware that medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the relevant health board, are unable to provide general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship. Income earned from the payment of the carers' allowance is not taken into account when determining eligibility for a medical card. The guidelines, however, are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines set by the chief executive officers, a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be awarded to individual family members on this basis.
