asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the fact that the school leaving age has been extended by one year, he will agree to the extension of the age limit for free medical treatment at schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Medical Services.
11.
The school health examination service is available, regardless of age, for all children attending national schools. This position was not altered by the extension of the school leaving age.
The Minister has already given me this information in the form of a letter in regard to a particular case. Is he aware that several parents are still complaining that the children serving these extra years of compulsory education are not getting the benefit of these health services?
The scheme applies only to national schools and the extension of the school-leaving age does not affect this, irrespective of age.
Can the Minister say for sure that the people serving this extra year are receiving these health services in the last year of their schooling because my information is, and I have had several complaints to this effect, that they are not?
I am not so aware.
12.
asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for the provision of health services for those in the 12 to 16 years age group during the period which commences when they leave primary school until they qualify for a GMS card.
At present a child in this category has eligibility for health services corresponding to his parents' eligibility. In practice, this means:
1. The full range of available health services if his parents are eligible for a medical card.
2. A limited range of services, including in particular hospital inpatient and outpatient services and assistance towards the cost of prescribed medicines of his parents are in the limited eligibility class.
3. Services relating to tuberculosis and other infectious diseases and to certain long-term diseases and disabilities, irrespective of his parents' circumstances.
These services are similarly available after 16 years of age but the assessment of eligibility is then based on the person's own circumstances.
The school health examination service, which is available to children attending national school, has a more specific purpose. It is primarily a diagnostic service for children, designed to identify at an early age the need for treatment or care in relation to any aspect of the child's health or development. Its relevance diminishes as the child grows older and, for practical reasons, it is confined to children who are attending national school. Having regard to the heavy demands on available resources and to the services already available, there is not at present a strong case for an extension of this service.
Does the Minister not feel that the good work done for pupils in national schools for seven years, of a medical, dental and optical nature, can be set at nought because there is no follow-up for the next four years? Does he not agree that the need is not diminished when a child comes to the age of 12? Is there not a need for his Department to bridge the gap—there is blanket cover up to 12 and cover then for students up to 16 — of four years? Other pupils are getting preferential treatment compared with those in this age group?
I must say that I do not disagree with the Deputy in this matter at all and I will try to close that gap when resources permit. As I explained on many occasions the emphasis now is on medical care for children in national schools, whether they be 12, 13, 14 or 15. There is also the fact that 34 or 35 per cent of the population are holders of medical cards and children described by the Deputy would be covered by those cards. I certainly do see a difficulty in relation to ongoing treatment so far as dentistry is concerned, when there is this clamp down immediately a child goes to technical school or to secondary college. I can only say that I will do my best to try to bridge that gap but I do not think I could do it in present circumstances.
Seeing that the reasons for not bridging the gap are of an economic nature, would I be too optimistic if I expected that the announcement tonight might help to bridge it?
They are not entirely economic matters. There is the matter of the availability of staff as well.
Could I ask the Minister if he would consider increasing the child allowance on the medical card qualification?
That is a separate matter altogether.
It is not, I suggest.
I am afraid it is. This is distinctly a separate matter.
May I say that the review of the guidelines for eligibility for medical cards will be undertaken next month?