Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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289. To ask the Minister for Health the status of his plans to extend the entitlement to a medical card for all children in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38343/16]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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335. To ask the Minister for Health when children who are recipients of domiciliary care allowance will be approved for full medical cards without assessments, as promised in July 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38545/16]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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386. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of medical cards for persons in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance; when they will receive their medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38827/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 289, 335 and 386 together.

I have recently received permission from Government for my Department to prepare the Heads and General Scheme of a Bill to give children in receipt of DCA automatic entitlement to a medical card. This new legislation will effectively mean that all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will automatically qualify for a medical card and, therefore, no longer be subject to the medical cards means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA. It is my objective to have this legislation prepared and brought before the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. In addition to the preparation of the legislation, I have asked the HSE, so that the proposal can be implemented in a smooth and efficient manner, to commence the process of planning for the requirements of the scheme and how the cards will issue.