James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to administer the means test for the over 70s medical card [36354/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for the medical card benefit. Therefore, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to index the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36359/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to double the income limit eligibility of parents of children under six years of age and treble them for parents of children with an intellectual disability of less than 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36360/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.

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.