Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1546. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an estimate on the additional cost to the Exchequer of ensuring that those currently in receipt of disability allowance would retain their medical card upon entering employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20086/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.

In relation to the cost of providing a medical card in the manner sought, 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. 

However, it should be noted that since December 2018, the medical card earnings disregard for persons in receipt of Disability Allowance was increased from €120 to €427 per week and applies to the assessment process for both single persons and to family assessments. This measure gave effect to one of the key recommendations of the Make Work Pay for Persons with Disabilities Report.

Furthermore, medical card holders who are unemployed and take up new employment or self-employment may continue to hold their medical card for a period of 3 years, provided they were in receipt of certain allowances or benefits at the full rate applicable to them, such as Disability Allowance, for a period of at least 12 months prior to commencing employment.