Dick Spring
Ceist:77 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the regulations relating to the granting of medical cards to ensure that families who obtain the family income supplement will qualify for medical cards.
Written Answers. - Eligibility for Medical Card.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:178 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he has issued a directive to health boards to disregard family income supplement payments in assessing entitlement to medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 178 together. I have conveyed to CEOs the Government's decision, as announced in the Budget Statement, to ensure that no person loses the medical card as a result of obtaining the family income supplement. The chief executive officers of health boards have been requested not to take account of family income supplement in determining eligibility for medical cards in advance of regulations to this effect being made in the near future.