Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the maximum amount a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 can earn and still retain their medical card; if this amount referred to has changed over the past eight years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38642/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of general practitioner, GP, services. In 2005 the GP visit card was introduced as a graduated benefit so that people on lower incomes, particularly parents of young children, who do not qualify for a medical card would not be deterred on cost grounds from visiting their GP.

Since the beginning of 2005, substantial changes have been made to the way in which people's eligibility for a medical card is assessed and these apply equally to the assessment process for a GP visit card. The income guidelines have been increased by a cumulative 29%. Income assessed is now after income tax and PRSI. In addition, allowance is made for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of mortgage or rent, child care and travel to work costs. In June 2006, I agreed with the Health Service Executive, HSE, a further adjustment to the assessment guidelines for GP visit cards and these are now 50% higher than those in respect of medical cards.

The financial guidelines used by the executive to assist it in determining if a person qualifies for a medical card have been changed over the past eight years. The following table gives details of medical card and GP visit card guidelines as at 20 November 2006. As the HSE has the operational and funding responsibility for these benefits, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

The following table shows allowed weekly income, after tax and PRSI, before mortgage or rent, child care and travel to work expenses are allowed for.