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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1985

Vol. 359 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Card Eligibility.

169.

asked the Minister for Health if, in respect of small farmers who make applications for medical cards, he will arrange for the health boards to accept their means as assessed by the social welfare officers in determining the eligibility of the same applicants for unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Medical cards are issued to persons with full eligibility for health services i.e. persons who in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the health board, are unable to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship. Income guidelines have been drawn up to assist the chief executive officers in determining applications for medical cards and for ensuring uniformity of decisions between health boards. Evidence of the applicants income is required by the chief executive officers in assessing eligibility.

The income of small farmers is determined on a factual basis and the income guidelines are then applied. This determination of income normally entails an assessment by health board officials of the income and expenses of the farm. The criteria for medical card entitlement differs from the criteria for unemployment assistance so that it is not possible to arrange for automatic acceptance by health boards of the social welfare officers assessment of means. However, health boards have been encouraged to develop closer liaison with social welfare officers with a view to improving uniformity in assessing income for both health and social welfare purposes.

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