Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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230. To ask the Minister for Health if the local property tax can be considered as a legitimate outgoing expense for the purposes of calculating means in respect of eligibility for the medical card, if he will amend the regulations to officially deem this an allowable expense; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8641/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the Health Act 1970, as amended, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for assessing an individual's entitlement to a medical card and a GP visit card. Section 45 of the Act provides that adult persons who, in the opinion of the HSE are unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependents are deemed to be persons with full eligibility.

The HSE has set out National Assessment Guidelines outlining what is included in the assessment process and the Local Property Tax is not included. There are no proposals at present to include the new property tax as a deductible expense in determining eligibility for medical cards.