Questions

1092. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the work done to date to progress the 2025 Programme for Government commitment to increase medical card income limits; the timelines on such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15093/26]

646. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives annual or quarterly statistical reports from the Health Service Executive on discretionary medical card approvals and refusals granted under the General Medical Services scheme in respect of persons aged over 70; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13798/26]

647. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the data provided to her Department by the Health Service Executive on discretionary medical card decisions is disaggregated by age cohort, geographic region, and outcome; and if she will outline the categories of data routinely received. [13799/26]

648. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards granted to persons aged over 70 following a means assessment in each of the years 2020 to 2025, inclusive; and the number of applications in that age cohort refused following discretionary assessment in each year. [13800/26]

649. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any review, audit, or policy assessment since 2020 of trends in the exercise of discretion in medical card eligibility decisions affecting persons aged over 70; and if she will provide details of any such review. [13801/26]

650. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national guidance or policy directives are issued by her Department to ensure consistency in the exercise of discretion under the medical card scheme; and if she will outline the governance arrangements in place to monitor consistency and equity of outcomes for older persons. [13802/26]

651. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the financial impact on older persons who are refused discretionary medical card eligibility but granted a GP Visit Card; and if she will outline any policy considerations arising from such assessment. [13803/26]

659. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department receives, holds, or reviews aggregated data from the Health Service Executive or the Primary Care Reimbursement Service on the exercise of discretion in medical card eligibility decisions following a means assessment; the total number of applications in which discretion was considered in each of the years 2020 to 2025; the number granted on …

660. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal reporting framework exists between the Health Service Executive and her Department in respect of discretionary medical card decisions; the frequency of any such reporting; whether performance indicators, audit reviews, or internal compliance checks are conducted in relation to discretionary refusals; and if she will outline the Department’s role…

1065. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of requests received in 2024 and in 2025 for assistance with assignment to a GP or a dentist for medical card holders, free GP card holders, or by people without such qualification, in tabular form. [11662/26]

1079. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of persons aged 66 years and over who were refused a medical card on income and/or medical grounds in each of the past three years; the average income level of applicants refused in this age group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11781/26]

1184. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have received an enhanced medical card from the Magdalene restorative justice ex-gratia scheme in each year since its establishment [12442/26]

578. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the process to renew a medical card; the format in which a person can complete and submit their renewal for example, in person, online or by post; the accommodations available to individuals arising from personal circumstance for example medical issues including PTSD, numeracy and literacy issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11364/26]

323. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to review and consider the provision of full medical cards for persons living with spinal injuries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10666/26]

358. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of people that have lost their medical cards as a result of social welfare increases bringing them over the threshold since Budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10808/26]

988. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the ways an individual can complete the medical card review; if there is a paper form alternative for individuals to complete the review of the medical card; and if the HSE believes that the online system to renew medical cards is inclusive of older persons and individuals with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9266/26]

1069. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been declined a medical card renewal despite significant medical complications; if she will instruct the HSE to review the case and issue them with a card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9599/26]

1091. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health if the recent increase of €20 in the State pension in Budget 2026 will result in pensioners being over the threshold for a medical card; if she will increase the income threshold to ensure this does not happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9786/26]

1132. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the rationale for access to medical cards in Ireland remaining subject to a means test, particularly in light of the system in the United Kingdom where access to healthcare is not means tested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10179/26]

1133. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has considered the experience of Irish citizens returning from the United Kingdom who encounter differences in access to healthcare supports, including eligibility for medical cards; whether guidance or information is provided to assist such individuals in understanding the Irish system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10180/26…

1195. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether patients diagnosed with cancer are automatically entitled to a medical card to ensure full access to necessary diagnostic tests, specialist consultations, treatment, and follow-up care; if not, if she will introduce measures to guarantee automatic medical card provision for all cancer patients to remove financial barriers to care; and if she will ma…

459. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that a child aged 9 years-of-age or over travelling on public transport with a medical card is entitled to an accompanying adult who travels for free, but the child themselves does not travel for free; if she will ensure both child and accompanying adult will travel for free; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7305/26]

187. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health if she will increase the qualifying income limits for a medical card in respect of those over 70 years, as these limits have not been increased since 2020 with no consideration allowed for any pro-rata public service pensions or State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6698/26]

215. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians providing services to medical card patients under the community ophthalmic services scheme in each of the years since 2019, by county and town/region, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6836/26]

1128. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that all salbutamol nebules covered by the HSE medical card scheme are out of stock and those on medical cards are forced to pay for private alternatives. [6464/26]