Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no target set in the Health Service Executive national plan to reduce the number of discretionary medical cards. I have provided the figure on the number of holders of discretionary medical cards who now have full ordinary medical cards.

The HSE produced a national assessment guideline to give a clear framework for assessing eligibility for discretionary medical cards for persons who have a particular illness or hardship because of their circumstances. These guidelines facilitate the application of discretion by decision makers in responding to the individual needs of particular applications for discretionary medical cards. The Health Act of 1970 provides that persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for themselves and their family qualify for a medical card.

I do not accept Deputy Martin's assertion that there has been a change in the way in which discretionary medical cards are granted. In fact, as I have pointed out, 22,584 people no longer have these cards because they now have full medical cards, having qualified in the ordinary way.

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