Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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498. To ask the Minister for Health if officials in client registration medical cards are adhering to European Union Regulation 1408/17 when assessing individual applications for full medical cards; if he will confirm that pensioners in receipt of a social security pension from the United Kingdom are entitled to a non-means tested medical card; that such pensioners' entitlement should not be adjudicated in association with a spouse but in their own right; if he will confirm that occupational pensions are not taken into account in determining such pensioners' entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29848/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Regulation (EC) 883/04 and Implementing Regulation 987/09 provide for the coordination of social security systems, including healthcare, within the EU/EEA and Switzerland, with the aim of ensuring the free movement of persons. This objective of the Regulation is to ensure that persons exercising their right to move and to stay freely within the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not suffer disadvantage.

Medical Cards may be issued to EU\EEA citizens under EU Regulation 883/04 if the person is in receipt of a contributory social insurance payment from one, or more, of the Member States, provided they are not receiving a contributory social insurance payment from the Irish State. These Medical Cards are issued on an individual basis and the income of a spouse\partner is not relevant. EU\EEA citizens who are in receipt of a qualifying payment from another member State should make an application for a Medical Card directly to the HSE. Such applicants are not means tested. The application should be accompanied, as evidence that they are receiving a qualifying payment, by the relevant EU "S" form issued by the Member State making their payment. The position regarding the UK is that, under a reciprocal agreement, the EU "S" form is not required, however, proof of receipt of a qualifying payment from the UK authorities should be provided with the application to the HSE.