Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a change (details supplied). [20497/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has detailed operational guidelines in place for the assessment of medical card applications. The purpose of these 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. I am informed that the guidelines include provisions dealing with medical card review dates. The guiding principle is to set a date in each case at which an income/dependency change or other change could reasonably be expected to occur which would affect eligibility.

The HSE has also indicated that such reviews are conducted in a manner that takes due account of the personal circumstances of the card holder and that arrangements are in place to limit the need for frequent reviews where a review would normally result in the renewal of the medical card.