Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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204. To ask the Minister for Health the process for parents of children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance to receive medical cards; and if this introduction will extend to waivers for State examination fees for this academic year [12275/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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251. To ask the Minister for Health when it is expected that the medical cards will be approved for all children currently in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12413/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 251 together.

The Health (Amendment) Bill 2017 was published Thursday 2nd March 2017. This Bill will enable the granting of full eligibility for general practitioner and other health services to all children in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is paid. Granting a medical card to all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will benefit approximately 9,800 children in this cohort who do not currently qualify for a medical card. The legislation is scheduled to enter the Dail this evening, Wednesday, 8th March 2017, and it is hoped to complete all stages before the end of March.

The HSE is also finalising the administration processes that need to be in place so that the proposal can be implemented in a smooth and efficient manner. It has been working to produce both a paper-based and online pre-registration system which is expected to be available on the 1st May 2017 ahead of a go-live date of the 1st June 2017.

Eligibility for a DCA medical card will also provide cover for other benefits which are covered by a regular medical card, including the waiving of examination fees. Whether the waivers for examination fees for this academic year are covered would be a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.

How the new DCA medical card will work:

- For a child in receipt of DCA but who currently does not have a medical card, the parent or guardian will register for the scheme either online or through a paper-based form.

- For a child who is currently eligible for a medical card (under discretion or otherwise) and is confirmed to be in receipt of DCA, the HSE will automatically issue them a medical card.

- For a child who is currently eligible for a GP Visit Card (under discretion or otherwise), this card will automatically be upgraded to a full medical card.