Vol. 470 No. 4
106 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason the budget provision allowing people who take up employment to retain their medical card for three years still exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19235/96]
Limerick East): The budget provision referred to by the Deputy was announced in the context of a wide range of employment measures for the long-term unemployed and allows for persons who have been unemployed for at least one year to retain their medical cards for three years after entering employment. The purpose of the provision is to remove the disincentive which the potential loss of the medical card could have for long-term unemployed persons entering employment.
