Medical Cards.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (196)

Liam Twomey

Question:

207 Dr. Twomey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to her press release of 26 June 2006, the amount she estimates that a couple with four children earning €1,580 gross a week would be paying in mortgage or rent, childcare and travel to work expenses and still be eligible for the doctor only medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25884/06]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The assessment of eligibility to medical cards and GP visit cards is statutorily a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and is determined following an examination of the income and medical need of the applicant and his/her dependants. In assessing eligibility income guidelines are used by the HSE.

The following table gives details of sample cases of how much persons can earn weekly and the weekly outgoings required to enable them to be entitled to a GP visit card.

Increases in GP Visit Card Guidelines — June 2006

Sample Cases
	Medical Card	GPV Card	Weekly Outgoings	Total Outgoings	Total Guidelines
	Base guidelines	Mortgage/rent	Childcare	Travel to work
Single Person Living Alone
Aged up to 65 years	184.00	276.00	100	0	50	150	426.00
Aged between 66-69 years	201.50	303.00	100	0	50	150	453.00
Single Person Living with Family
Aged up to 65 years	164.00	246.00	0	0	50	50	296.00
Aged between 66-69 years	173.50	260.00	0	0	50	50	310.00
Married Couple / Single Parent Families with Dependent Children
Aged up to 65 years	266.50	400.00	200	0	100	300	700.00
With 1 Child	304.50	457.00	200	150	100	450	907.00
With 2 Children	342.50	514.00	200	300	100	600	1,114.00
With 3 Children	383.50	576.00	200	450	100	750	1,326.00
With 4 Children	424.50	637.00	200	600	100	900	1,537.00
Aged up to 65 years	266.50	400.00	250	0	100	350	750.00
With 1 Child	304.50	457.00	250	150	100	500	957.00
With 2 Children	342.50	514.00	250	300	100	650	1,164.00
With 3 Children	383.50	576.00	250	450	100	800	1,376.00
With 4 Children	424.50	637.00	250	600	100	950	1,587.00
Aged up to 65 years	266.50	400.00	300	0	100	400	800.00
With 1 Child	304.50	457.00	300	150	100	550	1,007.00
With 2 Children	342.50	514.00	300	300	100	700	1,214.00
With 3 Children	383.50	576.00	300	450	100	850	1,426.00
With 4 Children	424.50	637.00	300	600	100	1,000	1,637.00
Aged up to 65 years	266.50	400.00	350	0	100	450	850.00
With 1 Child	304.50	457.00	350	150	100	600	1,057.00
With 2 Children	342.50	514.00	350	300	100	750	1,264.00
With 3 Children	383.50	576.00	350	450	100	900	1,476.00
With 4 Children	424.50	637.00	350	600	100	1050	1,687.00†

†This is the amount of nett income a person can earn if they have the outgoings shown