James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 27: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason an Irish person (details supplied) studying as a mature student in the UK is not entitled to a medical card despite returning to Ireland for holidays and weekends; if this is a common policy pertaining to all Irish students studying abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2036/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 (HSE) as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility (Category 1, i.e. medical card holders) or limited eligibility (Category 2) for health services.

Where a person stays temporarily in another EU member state to undertake a recognised course of study and the HSE is satisfied that the person continues to be ordinarily resident in Ireland, eligibility for health services in Ireland, whether full or limited, is unaffected.

Separately, under the provisions of Regulation (EC) 1408/71, an Irish resident who goes to another member state to undertake a recognised course of study but who remains ordinarily resident in Ireland is covered by the European Health Insurance Card for necessary healthcare in the public system of that member state (such persons were formerly covered by the form E128, which was replaced by the EHIC in 2004).

As the Deputy's question refers to an individual case, the Health Service Executive is the appropriate body to consider the matter. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to have the matter examined and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.