Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
157 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if child care costs will be dealt with as an expense in the assessment of means for the purposes of medical card application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32575/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and 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 or authority other than for persons aged 70 years and over, who are automatically eligible for a medical card. Medical cards are issued to persons 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. Income guidelines are drawn up each year by the chief executive officers of the health boards or authorities to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility for a medical card and these are revised annually in line with the consumer price index, CPI. The last such increase was notified in January 2004.
Chief executive officers of the health boards or authorities have discretion regarding the issuing of medical cards and a range of income sources are excluded by the health boards when assessing medical card eligibility. Despite someone having an income that exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may still be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that a person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. It is 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.
Issues such as child care costs will be taken into account in considering whether or not "undue hardship" arises in any case including all child care costs necessarily incurred in providing family support and in taking up-continuing employment, education or training. The chief executive officers of the boards or authorities are currently reviewing numerous issues in relation to the administration of the medical card scheme under the auspices of the HeBE medical card schemes modernisation group. In line with the health strategy, my Department is committed to the preparation of new legislation to update and codify the whole legal framework for eligibility and entitlements in regard to health services.
