Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the reported anomaly relating to medical card eligibility in respect of persons aged between 18 and 26 years who, following changes to eligibility, will have their social welfare entitlement reduced to €100 per week if they are not full-time students and where they do not qualify for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2913/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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People aged 16 to 25 years that are eligible for a medical card are those who are dependants of a medical card holder or who are financially independent in their own right and come within the medical card guidelines. Some persons aged between 16 and 25 years in receipt of social welfare payments may not qualify for a medical card where they have not demonstrated that they are not financially dependant on another person.

Previously, a person in receipt of weekly income greater than or equal to the Supplementary Welfare Allowance was deemed to be financially independent. The HSE has changed this practice. Currently, a person in the age group 16 to 25 years, whose income is equivalent to or greater than €164 per week, is considered to be financially independent. Such a person can be assessed in his/her own right against the medical card assessment guidelines.