Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the review of medical cards for eligible persons suffering from long-term illnesses, particularly in the case of a young person suffering a physical disability such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida; the number of times that person's eligibility for a medical card is reviewed; the guidelines laid down for the health boards in those cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5596/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the assessment of applications for medical cards. The periodic review of eligibility and the frequency of such reviews are also matters for the HSE's local area to consider and determine. However, the HSE takes into account the circumstances of each case when setting the renewal dates. Reviews are necessary to ensure the medical card databases are accurate and that public accountability issues are addressed.

On the issue of children with very serious illnesses, an operational group overseeing the medical card scheme has been asked to put processes in place that limit the need for frequent reviews in these cases, where a review would normally result in automatic renewal of the medical card. Persons aged 70 years and over have a statutory entitlement to a medical card since 1 July 2001, otherwise applicants, including those who may suffer from the diseases mentioned by the Deputy, must apply to the local area of the HSE to have their cases assessed on the basis of income and medical need.

Under the Health Act 1970, the HSE may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition through the long-term illness scheme. The conditions are mental handicap, mental illness — for people under 16 only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism, conditions arising from thalidomide and acute leukaemia. Parkinsonism, acute leukaemia, muscular dystrophies and multiple sclerosis were added to the scheme in 1975. The LTI does not cover GP fees or hospital co-payments.