Vol. 480 No. 2
166 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the situation in relation to the granting of medical cards and particularly in relation to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9, who, on return after years in the United Kingdom, was granted a medical card, in spite of the fact that when allowed a small social welfare payment, the card was immediately withdrawn. [13485/97]
Under EU Regulation 1408/71, persons taking up permanent residence in Ireland who are in receipt of a social security pension from another EU member state, who are not in receipt of an Irish Department of Social Welfare pension (as either a recipient or dependant), and are not employed or self-employed here are entitled to a medical card irrespective of means. Otherwise, they are entitled to health services on the same basis as persons normally resident here, i.e., on means.
In this regard as the person concerned is in receipt of a pension from the Department of Social Welfare and is therefore covered by the Irish social welfare system her entitlement to a medical card is based on means. Any applicant who is not eligible for a medical card under EU regulations may apply for a medical card under Irish legislation. Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, are unable without undue hardship to provide general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Income guidelines are 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 the consumer price index.
In addition these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, that person may still be awarded a medical card if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this.
