Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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204. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of guaranteeing a medical card for all members of the Travelling community. [27354/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Act provides that persons who are unable, without due hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and family can qualify for full eligibility (a medical card). The HSE awards medical cards in accordance with the Health Act, and assesses applicants on the overall financial situation of the applicant and his or her spouse or partner.

Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of any difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In relation to the cost of medical card provision for all members of the Travelling community, the data required to model this is not readily available and it is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the cost of the proposal.