Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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446. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in calculation of income for the family income supplement, superannuation and the pension levy are deducted for the purpose of calculating assessable income, whereas they are not for the medical card, whereby only tax, PRSI and the USC are deducted; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that superannuation, pension levy and 1.5% spousal and child pension are mandatory deductions in his Department, thereby making it more difficult for those working in the sector to access such medical benefits; the rationale for this; his plans to change the calculation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3911/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.