Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the income limits for medical cards were last increased; her views on whether the limits should be further increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18020/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Since the beginning of 2005, the qualification guidelines for medical card eligibility have increased by a cumulative 29% (7.5% and 20% in January and October 2005 respectively). The Agreed Programme for Government commits to the following: Indexing the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage; doubling of the income limit eligibility of parents of children under 6 years of age, and trebling them for parents of children under 18 years of age with an intellectual disability.

In conjunction with the development of a new legislative framework to provide for clear statutory provisions on eligibility for health and personal social services, my Department is reviewing the assessment criteria in the context of financial, medical and social need in line with the commitment in Towards 2016. A Steering Group has been established which is expected to complete this work in autumn 2008. It is my intention to then consider how best to progress the commitments in the Agreed Programme for Government in relation to medical card eligibility.