Vol. 496 No. 3
256 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children if the special circumstances of persons confined to a wheelchair are taken into consideration when they apply for a medical card and, in particular, in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1. [22361/98]
Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on means and the legal responsibility, under the Health Act, 1970, for the determination of eligibility for medical cards is with the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board. Medical cards are issued to those who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer, are unable to provide general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship.
I, as Minister for Health and Children, do not have a function in the issue of medical cards to individuals. However, as the determination of eligibility of the person concerned is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board I have asked him to have the matter investigated and to reply directly to the Deputy.
