Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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171. To ask the Minister for Health the eligibility criteria for discretionary medical cards; the reasons a person who has held a medical card for many years might have their discretionary medical card revoked, if their medical circumstance have not changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9899/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is primarily based on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue 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.

However, 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 the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.

The HSE is also required to undertake periodic reviews of eligibility in order to ensure that a person continues to meet the qualifying criteria required to continue holding eligibility. It is important to note that where any medical or GP visit card holder has a review process initiated, he/she will continue to retain his or her eligibility for the duration of the review process.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department keeps medical card issues under review in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs.