Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will address the issue raised with her by an association (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20214/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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At present, medical cards are granted primarily on the basis of means and individual circumstances. Under the Health Act, 2004, determination of eligibility for medical cards is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. The HSE has discretion, in cases of exceptional need, to provide assistance to individuals where undue hardship would otherwise be caused.

Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependents who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of general practitioner services. For medical card and GP visit card applications, the HSE considers an applicant's income after tax and PRSI are deducted, rather than total income. Allowances are also made for expenses on childcare, rent and mortgage costs and the cost of travel to work.

There are no plans to provide for the granting of medical cards to any particular group of patients with particular medical conditions as a whole.