Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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480. To ask the Minister for Health when medical card cover will be extended to recipients of the domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2967/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department recently received permission from Government to draft the new Bill. 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 card means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA. The legislation is currently being prepared and will be 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.