Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify the income limits and other conditions that apply to a person living with their parents to be deemed eligible to apply for an independent medical card without regard to their parents income or their parents eligibility. [24883/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Persons aged 16 years or older, who are financially independent of their parents, including those living with their parents, are assessed independently. In such cases, the determination of eligibility for a medical card is based on their own income. The assessment is carried out in accordance with the Health Service Executive's general medical card / GP visit card income guidelines.

The income threshold for an independent single person aged up to 65 years and living with family is €164 net per week for a medical card and €246 net per week for a GP visit card.

Persons living with parents who are assessed independently and who do not qualify for a medical card under the income thresholds and whose circumstances are such that it would cause them undue hardship to provide medical and surgical services for themselves may be considered for a discretionary medical card.

I would also point out that under the Health Services (No. 3) Regulations, 1983 (S.I. No. 381 of 1983) persons aged between 16 and 25 years, who are financially dependent on their parents qualify for a medical card and associated benefits if their parents are medical card holders.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the circumstances in which persons who hold British or EU pensions qualify without reference to income for a medical card. [24884/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulation (EC) 1408/71 deals with the coordination of social security, including healthcare, for those moving within the European Union. Under its provisions, persons residing in Ireland who are attached to the social security system of another member state are entitled to receive healthcare services in Ireland at the cost of the member state with which they are affiliated. This is in accordance with Annex VI of the Regulation (text relating to Ireland), which states that such persons "are entitled free of charge to all medical treatment provided for by Irish legislation where the cost of this treatment is payable by the institution of a Member State other than Ireland."Income is irrelevant to entitlements under the Regulation.

EU pensioners resident in Ireland and who are in receipt of a qualifying pension as evidenced by form E121 receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement to healthcare, provided they are not subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI. Pensioners from the UK are not required to have an E121 but must provide proof that they are in receipt of a UK social security pension.