Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

97 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide details of the review of anomalies in the medical card system being undertaken by a group established by the chief executive officers of the health boards; the terms of reference of this group; the anomalies being examined; the timeframe for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2095/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The Government announced in the 1996 budget that "persons who have been unemployed for at least one year shall retain their medical cards after entering employment." Persons who are on the live register for at least one year and who take up paid insurable employment are deemed to meet the criteria for retaining their medical cards for three years. The purpose of the budget provision was to remove disincentives to labour force participation by long-term unemployed persons. The provision also covers participants on approved schemes applicable to the long-term unemployed, including the back to work allowance, community employment, jobstart, job initiative, partnership and community group initiative and development courses such as the workplace and vocational training opportunities scheme.

Since the 1996 budget provision took effect a number of problems relating to its interpretation and application in particular circumstances have come to light. The most frequent problems have arisen in relation to the time of commencement of the three year retention period for those moving from subsidised employment into "open" employment and in relation to persons taking up part-time employment while still signing on the live register for a few days a week. To address the issue a joint Department of Health and Children- health board working group was established with the following terms of reference: to clarify the guidelines on eligibility for medical cards particularly as they relate to the budget 1996 provision in relation to persons who have been on the live register for 12 months and who take up paid insurable employment and also to participants on approved schemes aimed at the long-term unemployed.

The chief executive officers of the health boards agreed with the recommendations made in the report and requested that revised guidelines be prepared. The guidelines have been agreed and are in the process of being printed and circulated within each health board area. The purpose of the guidelines, which will be available to the public, is to facilitate greater awareness of the provision, and speedier, more consistent and transparent processing of applications.