Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010
705 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children when a medical card will be restored to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32998/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
706 Deputy Noel Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding entitlement to medical cards for persons on community employment schemes who are on invalidity pension; if there is automatic entitlement; if persons who take up community employment places qualify for a certain number of years; the reason the Health Service Executive refuse applications each year and grant it an appeal; and if renewal application from a person (details supplied ) Dublin 11 can now be approved. [33019/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Health Service Executive's medical card / GP visit card national assessment guidelines, persons in receipt of the following allowances/benefits for a period of 12 months or more can retain their medical card for a period of three years from the date of taking up full-time employment: job seekers allowance; job seekers benefit; one parent family payment; illness benefit; invalidity pension; disability allowance; blind pension; employment incentive schemes or educational opportunity schemes.
Such persons taking up part-time employment can retain their medical card for a period of three years from the date their income exceeds the relevant medical card guideline figure.
Persons participating on the following Government schemes retain eligibility for a medical card for the duration of the scheme: back to work allowance; back to work enterprise allowance; back to education allowance; revenue job assist; community employment; VTOS; job initiative; rural social scheme; education, training and development option; community services programme; part-time job incentive; part-time education option; FÁS (non-apprenticeship courses); Youthreach; local employment services courses; Fáilte and Teagasc courses; wage subsidy scheme.
A person moving from one scheme to another will retain eligibility for a medical card as long as they remain on one of the above schemes.
Adult and child dependants of persons who retain their medical card either through receipt of specified allowances/benefits or participation on the above Government Schemes are also eligible for a medical card.
The specific case mentioned by the Deputy has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
