Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 490: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether the medical card issued to persons with a disability should be in conjunction with the Department of Social and Family Affairs where this person would have a smart card or a blue card system as available in the UK; her further views on whether this process would cut down on administration and hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10352/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am in favour of the use of smart cards and other information systems and technologies to make it easier for people to avail of health and personal social services and to reduce the administrative workload involved. Such developments must of course, as far as possible, be examined and progressed in a co-ordinated manner across the public service. I understand that the Departments of Finance and Social and Family Affairs are managing a programme of work to develop a Public Service Card framework. One of the objectives of the programme is to facilitate convergence over time of existing cards and other tokens under a single branded scheme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who applied for same in July 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10365/07]

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% and in addition allowance is now made for reasonable expenses incurred in respect of mortgage/rent, child care and travel to work costs. In June 2006 I agreed a further adjustment to the income guidelines for GP visit cards. These are now 50% higher than those in respect of medical cards.

As the Health Service Executive 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 therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.