Medical Card Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Questions (674)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

674. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) on farm assist who commenced farming 5 ha of poor Connemara land three months ago is being asked to provide full farming accounts for this period before they can be approved for a medical card, given the fact that farm assist is means-assessed; his views on the fact that the cost of such a set of accounts would be totally disproportionate to the size of the farm, which is 5 ha; if the accounts previously sent to his Department on 15 September 2016 will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26982/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.