Vol. 200 No. 9
asked the Minister for Health if paragraph 3 of circular letter F.72/53 of 28th December, 1953, issued by his Department to health authorities, refers to all applicants for maternity cash grants, or to applicants not covered by medical cards; and if his direction requires health authorities to carry out a second assessment as to means in cases where applicants are already covered by medical cards.
2.
asked the Minister for Health the terms of circular letter F.72/53 of 28th December, 1953, issued to health authorities by his Department.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 1, and 2 together.
The circular referred to by the Deputy was issued before the medical card system was introduced under the general medical services regulations, 1954, and paragraph 3 was, consequently, drafted as referring to all applicants for maternity cash grants. Since the introduction in 1954 of the medical card system, eligibility for the general medical services, which carries with it entitlement to maternity cash grants, is based primarily on inclusion in the general medical services register. If, therefore, a woman's name is correctly included in that register, she is entitled to a maternity cash grant. Health authorities are, however, quite entitled—and indeed have the duty—to delete from the general medical services register at any time the names of persons who have, through betterment of their financial situation or otherwise, become ineligible for inclusion. A health authority may thus, if it desires, make fresh enquiries at the time of application for a maternity cash grant into the circumstances of any particular applicant, even if the person concerned is covered by a medical card, but there is no obligation on them to do so in the absence of grounds for believing that the applicant has ceased to be eligible for free general medical services.
I am arranging to have a copy of the circular placed in the Library for the convenience of Deputies.
Is the Minister aware that county managers—not in County Meath—have recently had a further examination of means carried out— within weeks after a medical card has been issued—when an application has been made for a maternity cash grant? Does he consider that that is laid down in his circular or have they been overstepping their duty?
The general medical services regulations of 1954 provide, inter alia, that whenever a local authority have reason to believe that, because of a change in circumstances or some other factor, persons are not entitled to have their names inscribed in the medical register, the health authority are bound to make investigations. If their investigations disclose their belief to be well-founded, then the persons' names must, under the law, be removed.
Would an increase in the family be just cause for such action, within weeks of the issue of the card?
The discretion in these matters does not rest with the Minister for Health.
Does the medical card remain in force until such time as it is revoked?
Yes, but there is a qualification which must be kept in mind, that is, that the health authority are bound to review the register from time to time, usually once a year.
And notify the person if there is a change?
They must notify the persons before their names are taken off the register.
I cannot answer that because I am not certain myself——
They must be notified in writing. I think the Minister told me that one time.
Another health authority have adopted a procedure which, so far as I can ascertain, seems to be in order, too, and there is not any individual notification in writing.
I think there is a statutory obligation on local authorities——
I do not think a statutory obligation: it may be under the regulations.
They are not issued from year to year?
If the Deputy expects all that information in reply to Supplementaries, I must disappoint him. I cannot now review all the operations of my Department.
I would not expect that.
