Vol. 483 No. 2
71 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of former long-term unemployed people who have been allowed to retain their medical cards on taking up employment in accordance with the decision announced in the 1996 budget; if his attention has been drawn to criticisms of the operation of the scheme voiced by the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19888/97]
The implementation of the 1996 budget provision concerning the retention of medical cards by persons who have been on the live register for at least 12 months who take up paid insurable employment and, also, to participants on approved schemes aimed at the long-term unemployed is a matter for health board chief executive officers, who have statutory responsibility for the administration of the medical card scheme. Information of this nature is not normally held by my Department. The details are being sought from the health boards and I will write directly to the Deputy advising him of the position.
The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU) has met with officials of my Department regarding the implementation of the 1996 budget provision on the retention of medical cards by persons who have been on the live register for at least 12 months who take up paid insurable employment and, also, by participants on approved schemes aimed at the long-term unemployed. Health boards have been made aware of the concerns of the INOU and arrangements are being put in place to address these concerns. I am advised that the Department of Social, Family and Community Affairs has commissioned an independent review of secondary and other benefits (such as the medical card), in relation to their effect on labour market participation. This review will examine, inter alia, any anomalies in the operation of the provisions relating to retention of medical cards by persons participating in community employment schemes.
