Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the way in which a person with significant health issues who held a discretionary medical card for several years could have had that card withdrawn in circumstances when his household income had in fact declined and his medical condition had not improved if in fact the guidelines for discretionary cards remain, as stated by him unchanged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7711/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE) unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. Assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants.

There is also provision for discretion by the HSE to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship" where the income guidelines are exceeded. Such cases are decided by a qualified Medical Officer. Medical expenses are taken into account when assessing an application on hardship grounds.

The HSE has produced national assessment guidelines to provide a clear framework to assist in the making of reasonable, consistent and equitable decisions when assessing an applicant for the General Medical Services scheme. These guidelines are publicly available and can be downloaded from the HSE's medical card website.

If an individual is not satisfied with a decision made by the HSE concerning an entitlement to a medical card or GP visit card, a person has a right of appeal to the HSE Appeals Officer. An appeal must be lodged by the applicant within twenty-one days of the decision.