Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the eligibility review unit was established in her Department; the progress made in developing proposals to update and clarify the law in relation to eligibility for services under the Health Acts; if the unit operates under directions as to the timeframe within which it should work; when its work is expected to be completed and any such proposals published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16252/08]

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

The Eligibility Review Team was established in my Department in 2005, to begin working on a new legislative framework to provide for clear statutory provisions on eligibility for health and personal social services. The aim is to produce a clear set of statutory provisions that ensure equity and transparency and to bring the system up to date with developments in service delivery and technology that have occurred since the Health Act 1970. The legislation will define specific health and personal social services more clearly; set out who should be eligible for what services, as well as criteria for eligibility; establish when and in what circumstances charges may be made and provide for an appeals framework.

As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a very complex undertaking, as the current legislation has been in place since 1970, and there have been significant developments in services since then. Nonetheless, it is expected that proposals will be brought to Government during 2008.

As part of this work the Department is reviewing the eligibility criteria for the assessment of medical cards in the context of financial, medical and social need in line with the commitment in Towards 2016 to clarify entitlement to a medical card. A Steering Group has been established which is expected to complete this work in Autumn 2008.