James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has index linked the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage as promised in the Programme for Government; if she has doubled the income limit eligibility for parents with children under the age of six and trebled them for parents of children with an intellectual disability under the age of 18 as promised in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34319/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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. Upon completion of this report, it is my intention to then consider how best to progress the commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to medical card eligibility.