Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will change the medical card income guideline to allow the pension levy paid by civil servants to be deducted from gross income, the same as tax and PRSI contributions and in arriving at assessing weekly income. [25081/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The assessment of eligibility to a medical card is a statutory function of the Health Service Executive (HSE). In assessing eligibility, the HSE must have regard to the overall financial situation of the applicant and his/her spouse and dependants. The HSE has guidelines to assist its staff in assessing the financial situation of applicants. Under the current guidelines, the Pension Levy payable by public servants is not deductible from gross income for assessment purposes.

My Department is currently reviewing the legislation relating to eligibility for health and personal social services with a view to making the system as fair and transparent as possible. As part of this exercise, a review of the eligibility criteria for medical cards is being undertaken. This includes consideration of assessable income and outgoings.