Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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752. To ask the Minister for Health when the income eligibility levels for qualification for a medical card for those over 70 years of age will be increased as was provided for in legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas in July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31655/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020, enacted on 2nd August 2020, provided for an increase to the gross medical card income limits for those aged 70 and over to €550 per week for a single person and to €1,050 per week for a couple.

The Government recently approved the necessary funding required to implement this measure and the new increased income limits will take effect from 1st November 2020.

Officials in my Department are therefore now making the necessary arrangements to commence the relevant section of the Act and are engaging with the HSE's National Medical Card unit to ensure all operational arrangements are in place for implementation of this measure.