Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to provide funding for low income families to access speech and language therapy for their children who require same; the support systems currently in place for such families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19947/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy may be aware, my Department's policy in relation to assistance for low income families in order to access health services is the provision of medical cards. Medical cards are provided for persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner, medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. A medical card allows a person, access to a range of health services, free of charge.

The current system of eligibility divides the population into those with full eligibility (medical card holders) and those with limited eligibility (all others). Other than for persons aged 70 years and over who have full eligibility regardless of means, entitlement to a medical card is determined by reference to undue hardship measured in the first instance by means. The Executive has discretion to grant a card in cases where income guidelines are exceeded.

Those with full eligibility receive all services free of charge, with the exception of a co-payment in respect of long-stay institutional care and home help services. Speech and Language therapy, whether provided in the out-patient department of a public hospital or through a public health clinic is, under the current legislation, free of charge to all, irrespective of whether the person has full or limited eligibility. If a person decides to access speech and language therapy in a private capacity, they move outside the public system, and any fee charged is a private contractual arrangement between the patient and the therapist.

If the Deputy is referring to an individual case, the relevant details should be forwarded to the Health Service Executive who, under the Health Act 2004 have responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services including the provision of speech and language therapy.