Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

945. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which a person (details supplied) in County Sligo has access to a medical card to cover costs associated with treatments prior to March 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13792/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The HSE have advised that if the person was not covered by a medical card in the time that the treatments were administered, the person is not eligible for a refund of costs endured.

However, the person may also be able to claim tax relief on the cost of medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%. Details on how to claim are at .