Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2007
241 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to double the income threshold limits for the full medical card for families with children under six in Budget 2008 as agreed in the Programme for Government; the estimated cost of this measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22366/07]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to:
Indexing the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage;
Doubling of the income limit eligibility of parents of children under 6 years of age, and trebling them for parents of children under 18 years of age with an intellectual disability;
Implementation of an annual publicity campaign and making applications easier so as to increase uptake amongst those who are eligible for medical cards and GP visit cards;
Allowing people with disabilities to work without losing key essential medical card cover after 3 years.
My Department is at present considering the steps required to enable these commitments to be implemented. This work includes consideration of the timescale for implementation and the costs involved.
242 Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on doubling the income threshold limits for the full medical card for families with children between seven and seventeen years of age; the estimated cost of this measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22367/07]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to doubling the income limit eligibility of parents of children under 6 years of age and trebling them for parents of children under 18 years of age with an intellectual disability. It commits also to an indexing of the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage. My Department is at present considering the steps required to enable these commitments to be implemented. I have no plans at present to double the income threshold limits for families with children between seven and seventeen years of age generally and accordingly such a measure has not been costed by my Department.
My Department is also examining the steps necessary to give effect to the Towards 2016 commitment to review the eligibility criteria for the assessment of medical cards in the context of medical, social and economic/financial need with a view to clarifying entitlement to a medical card.
