Vol. 486 No. 6
206 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the special guidelines, if any, which have been drawn up with regard to eligibility for medical cards for people whose permanent place or residence is an offshore island. [3108/98]
No guidelines have been drawn up in respect of eligibility for medical card services specifically for people whose permanent place or residence is an offshore island.
Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on means. Under the Health Act, 1970, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer, are unable to provide general practitioners medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship.
Income guidelines are drawn up by the chief executive officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility and are revised annually in line with the consumer price index. However, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and although a person's income exceeds the guidelines, he or she may still be awarded a medical card if the chief executive officer considers that his or her medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. In carrying out financial assessments for eligibility due regard is given to the higher living costs associated with living on an offshore island.
It is, of course, open to all persons to apply to the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship.
