Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to include Multiple Sclerosis as an automatic qualifying condition for the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22155/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means and medical cards are not awarded to any particular group of patients on the basis of a specific medical condition. However, the HSE has discretion to grant a medical card in certain circumstances. Medical card applicants who are unsuccessful following the means assessment, but who indicate that they suffer from a medical condition, are then referred to the Medical Officer for consideration on a medical discretionary basis.