Vol. 265 No. 8
asked the Minister for Health whether he is satisfied with the position which obtains under the Eastern Health Board whereby over 6,000 medical cards have been granted to university students without regard to the means of their parents or guardians.
6.
asked the Minister for Health whether he is satisfied with the position which obtains under the Eastern Health Board whereby students are granted medical cards without regard to the wishes of their parents or guardians.
7.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of the 6,300 medical cards held by university students in Dublin (1) the number held by students from counties outside Dublin and (2) the number held by students from countries outside Ireland.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7 together.
On the issue of medical cards to students, the legal position under the Health Act, 1970, is that "adult persons", that is, those over 16 years of age, are entitled to be assessed in their own right. Section 45 of the Act states that only the means of the person and his spouse will be taken into account. Therefore, the means of a university student's parents are not relevant. I would mention that this has been the law for hospital services since 1953. The 1970 Act made the rules for the general practitioner service consistent with that law. The Eastern Health Board are simply complying with the 1970 Act in the issue of these cards. The matter of parental agreement is not one for the health board, which must deal with applications received on their merits.
The number of cards issued by the Eastern Health Board which are held by students from counties outside Dublin is 2,967. The number held by students from countries outside Ireland is 206. These, at the time of the issue of the cards were, of course, resident for the purpose of their studies in Dublin and the board's obligation to provide services extended to them.
I should like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his very comprehensive reply. However, although it may be in the Act, in circumstances where we know that the rest of the citizens of Dublin have been subjected to a means test, would the Parliamentary Secretary not think that possibly the Act should be amended?
This Act was passed by the Oireachtas at a time when I had little to say in the matter except to talk from the Opposition benches, as the Deputy is doing now.
That does not answer my questions completely. I hope the new Government will not feel obliged to live with every sin of which they might think the former Government were guilty.
The Deputy must ask a specific question relevant to the subject matter contained in this question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree it is unfair and unjust that the taxpayers and rate-payers of Dublin city should be called on to subsidise the wellbeing of those who are in a position to pay while, at the same time, they themselves are subjected to a means test with regard to medical cards?
Will the Deputy not agree that his Minister and Government passed this Act and that for the time being the present Minister and myself will have to administer it as we find it?
