Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 June 2014
14. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards the Health Service Executive now projects for 2014; the number of new discretionary medical cards that were issued for the first time from 1 January 2014 to 16 June 2014; the number of new discretionary medical cards that issued in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27054/14]
View answerThe HSE does not set targets for different grounds of awarding medical cards. Medical cards are awarded on a number of grounds, which are set out in the HSE National Assessment Guidelines:
- the means of a person/family;
- person/family solely dependent on social welfare income;
- person returning to work after long term unemployment;
- person qualifying under EU legislation.
All medical cards are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility. The change in the number of existing cards will be dependent on individuals' personal circumstances and the extent of ineligibility detected. As a consequence, it is difficult to estimate the number of medical cards that may be awarded on a discretionary basis. I have been advised by the HSE that 5,478 new cards were issued where discretion was involved in the period January to April 2014, and that 23,000 new cards were issued in 2013 where discretion was involved.
