Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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957. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has had their medical card reviewed when they were initially awarded a medical card under the EU medical card scheme. [33677/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates under the legislative framework of the Health Act of 1970, as subsequently amended. In the interest of probity, the HSE is obliged to ensure that a person’s eligibility is correctly recorded in line with the eligibility legislation and the national guidelines. The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to a medical card or a GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of his or her entitlement. All medical card and GP visit card holders are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility. As part of the review process, where a person who holds a medical card under the EU Regulations, there is only a requirement to demonstrate to the HSE that they continue to qualify under the EU Regulations and there is no requirement to submit income details and details of savings.

If a person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation, the person will not qualify for a Medical Card under EU legislation, but may qualify for a means-tested Medical Card under national legislation. (A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI.) In carrying out reviews of eligibility under EU Regulations the HSE has responsibility to establish if an applicant is subject to Irish social security legislation.

Any person who has been issued with a medical card under EU Regulations and has had it withdrawn should contact the HSE to confirm that their circumstance has not changed.