Vol. 463 No. 3
134 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health whether the guidelines to be considered by health boards in the issue of medical cards and agreed by the chief executive officers of health boards and his Department remain in force; whether health boards have been informed that various payments such as the carer's allowance are to be excluded in the assessment procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6520/96]
Limerick East): Income guidelines have been drawn up by the chief executive officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with changes in the consumer price index. They were revised on 1 January 1996 on this basis.
The chief executive officers have established a working group to examine the manner in which eligibility for medical cards is determined in each board and to make recommendations as to how procedures might be improved in the interests of efficiency and service to the public. It is expected that the group will have completed its report shortly.
