Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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504. To ask the Minister for Health if it is the policy of his Department that all workers on the job initiative scheme would be entitled automatically to a medical card in view of the low wage they receive and the nature of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure and every application must be assessed on that basis.

If a person's only income is a means tested Social Welfare Allowance, he/she will qualify for a Medical Card.

The Job Initiative scheme is a Department of Social Protection (DSP) programme which provides full-time employment for people who are 35 years of age or over, who are unemployed and are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance or a One-Parent Family Payment for 5 years or more.

The main purpose of the programme is to assist long-term unemployed people to prepare for work opportunities. The programme achieves this by providing participants with work experience, training and development opportunities. The programme is sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary organisations, public bodies and those involved in not-for-profit activities.

The DSP provides financial support to assist with the Job Initiative scheme, for example participant wages. Also, while on the programme, participants can retain their medical cards.

On foot of changes the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced in 2004, there is currently no recruitment onto this scheme.