Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

283 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether it is fair and justified that a person who is in a nursing home and has a medical card is not considered for incontinence pads free of charge while if the person was not in a nursing home and had a medical card incontinence pads would be supplied free of charge; and if he will change this unfair situation that impacts especially on the elderly and ensure that where a person has a medical card he or she is eligible for the issue of incontinence pads free of charge. [26786/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Deputy will be pleased to learn that arrangements are in place for supply of incontinence pads to medical card holders whether they are living in the community or cared for in a private nursing home. Arrangements for the supply of incontinence pads to medical card patients living in the community are a matter for the relevant health board. However, under Article 16 of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, patients cared for in private nursing homes who are subvented by a health board should receive incontinence pads from the nursing home. If a medical card holder is being cared for in a private nursing home but is not being subvented by a health board, it would be a matter for the health board to supply incontinence pads as required.