Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if medication required by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be provided under the GMS in respect of their son who previously lived in County Kildare where their medication was provided under the GMS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13284/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The assessment of eligibility to medical cards and GP visit cards is statutorily a matter for the Health Service Executive and, with the exception of persons aged 70 and over who have an automatic entitlement to a medical card, is determined following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants. Under Section 45 of the Health Act 1970, medical cards are provided for persons who, in the opinion of the HSE, are unable without undue hardship to arrange GP medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Section 58 of the Health Act 1970, as amended, provided for GP visit cards for adult persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the HSE, and notwithstanding that they do not qualify for a medical card, it would be unduly burdensome to arrange GP medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Where a person is assessed by the Health Service Executive as qualifying for a medical card, he/she is categorised as having full eligibility for health services. This eligibility status is applicable in respect of services in all HSE regions and administrative arrangements are in place to enable a person, for example, to access general practitioner or pharmacy services as necessary in any part of the country. The HSE has informed me that it has detailed operational guidelines in place for the assessment and review of people's entitlement to a medical card or GP visit card. The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that every person entitled to a medical card or GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of their entitlement and that there is a consistency of approach to means-testing nationally. As the Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for the General Medical Services Scheme, 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.