Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 3

Written Answers - Medical Cards.

David Stanton

Question:

197 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 241 and 248 of 15 June 1999, he will allow certain people suffering from long-term disability and mental illness an entitlement to a medical card for life having due regard to revision because of possible changes in means and medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18641/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The position remains the same as stated in my reply of 15 June 1999. Because of the income guidelines in place and the health board chief executive officer's discretion to award a medical card in individual cases where hardship would otherwise occur, I do not feel it justifiable, nor did previous Governments on health policy grounds, to extend an automatic entitlement to a D508–C7

medical card to any specific group without any reference to their means, as a general rule.