James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 145: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if medical cards will issue to all victims of the MRSA superbug; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27494/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the Health Service Executive as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility under category 1, namely medical card holders, or limited eligibility under category 2 for health services. The Health Service Executive normally regards a person as "ordinarily resident" in Ireland if he or she satisfies the executive that it is his or her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year. Temporary visitors from another EU country are entitled to necessary treatment free of charge under the European health insurance card.

Persons in category 1 are are entitled to a full range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all inpatient public hospital services in public wards including consultants services, all outpatient public hospital services including consultants services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service.

Persons in category 2, non-medical card holders, are entitled, subject to certain charges, to all inpatient public hospital services in public wards including consultants services and outpatient public hospital services including consultants services.

Under the Health Act 1970, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the chief executive of the Health Service Executive, with the exception of people over the age of seventy years who are automatically entitled to a medical card. Medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants without undue hardship.

Eligibility for medical cards in the case of persons who have contracted MRSA will continue to be assessed on the same basis as all other persons.