Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on a request to include people with post-polio syndrome in the medical card scheme without subjection to a means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32174/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services qualify for a medical card, which entitles them to a range of health services free of charge. In general, eligibility for a medical card is determined by the Health Service Executive (HSE) following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her dependants. The main exception is persons aged 70 and over, who have an automatic statutory entitlement to a medical card. In assessing eligibility, the HSE use guidelines based on peoples' means, which includes their income, relevant outgoings and other certain factors such as medical need.

I have no plans to provide for the granting of medical cards to any particular group as a whole. However, 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 currently reviewing the assessment criteria for medical cards in the context of financial, medical and social need in line with the commitment in Towards 2016. A Steering Group has been established to undertake this review and is expected to complete its work and report to me within the next few months.