Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

If widows or widowers who are qualified under the scheme for a medical card commence residing with someone else of the opposite sex within three years of the death of their spouse, what investigation will the HSE conduct to determine whether such couples are residing together as friends or as husband and wife? The Minister referred to the Revenue, the State's capacity to check people's income, the assumption of honesty and people providing the details of their income to the HSE following 2 March 2009. What steps will the HSE take to investigate the financial circumstance of people aged over 70? What State resources will be spent on that exercise? What is the projected cost of the HSE dealing with the returns it receives following 2 March 2009 when dealing with the financial eligibility criteria?

Where people aged over 70 have made returns and they fall outside the income limits because of the gross rules that apply, has a direction been issued to the HSE by the Department or does the Minister propose to issue any to emphasise the fact that people who fall outside the eligibility test based on gross income should nevertheless have their cases examined by the HSE to ascertain whether they qualify for the medical card under the net income tests that are applied? The Minister used the example of someone paying €50,000 a year in nursing home fees, although no one in the State should be placed in that position. However, if that person makes a simple return based on gross income, he or she will be deemed ineligible. People may not know that once they are deemed ineligible, they might qualify under the general means test rules. What positive action will the HSE take to ensure those who may be otherwise entitled to medical cards but who fall foul of the new regime will have them made available to them? What active steps will the State take in that regard?

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