asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which two small farmers in County Kildare (details supplied) were found to have incomes this year which led to the cancellation of their general medical service cards; and if he is aware that these persons had general medical service cards for the past 16 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Card Cancellations.
64.
The decision as to whether or not any particular person is eligible for general medical services is a statutory function of the chief executive officer of a health board. I understand that when these two cases were reviewed last year it was decided that they were no longer eligible for medical cards. If the Deputy is aware of any special circumstances relating to the health needs of either applicant I would recommend that he bring these circumstances to the attention of the Eastern Health Board.
Does the Minister not agree it is hard to reconcile that a person who held a medical card for the last 16 years could on income grounds be denied a medical card this year? I have already sent details to the health board involved. Would the Minister have investigations made in relation to these two cases because I am confident their incomes have not increased?
My latest information was that no representations were made to the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board. I certainly cannot intervene because, as I said in the reply, it is a function of the chief executive officer. I have no evidence to the effect that these two families had medical cards for the previous 16 years, but I do not doubt what the Deputy has said. I have no record in relation to this. The Deputy will appreciate that the circumstances of the families could have changed over the past 16 years. In the case of one of the families the card was issued when there were five children. Those children have gone from the family for some reason or other. They are either married or gone abroad and only the husband and wife are there. This would have an effect on the decision to be made by the home assistance officer in this case and finally by the chief executive officer.