619. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has issued any internal guidance to staff to ensure that older applicants with modest increases in pension income are not denied a medical card where there are evident medical needs or high living costs. [64886/25]
Topics / Medical Cards
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsMedical Cards
399 questions from 99 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
399
questions
398 written, 1 oral
99
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
5
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 6 |
| February 2025 | 24 |
| March 2025 | 23 |
| April 2025 | 18 |
| May 2025 | 31 |
| June 2025 | 15 |
| July 2025 | 14 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 14 |
| October 2025 | 4 |
| November 2025 | 33 |
| December 2025 | 43 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 29 |
| March 2026 | 15 |
| April 2026 | 20 |
| May 2026 | 18 |
| June 2026 | 28 |
| July 2026 | 14 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 13 |
| October 2026 | 13 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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68
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38
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14
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10
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10
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9
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8
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7
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
620. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons aged 70 or over who have lost their medical card or GP visit card in the past three years due to being marginally above the income thresholds. [64887/25]
621. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department will consider aligning medical card thresholds with annual pension increases as part of future budget cycles; and if this option has been costed. [64888/25]
622. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the projected annual cost of increasing medical card thresholds for older persons in line with the most recent pension increase; and the estimated number of additional medical card holders such a measure would support. [64889/25]
365. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the reason income limits for persons aged over 70 applying for a full medical card have not been revised in recent budgets; if she accepts that the current income thresholds are no longer reflective of the significant rises in the cost of living, energy, insurance, inflation and healthcare expenses; and if she will outline any plans to review these limits …
1036. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders currently waiting for dental appointments in County Laois, by age and waiting time, for end of October 2024 and end of October 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63122/25]
1069. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the grant allowance for a person with non-cancer related hair loss, who is in possession of a valid medical card and GP referral; and the level of support available, by county, in tabular form. [63276/25]
1110. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health her plans to extend the long-term illness card to include pulmonary fibrosis given it is available for persons with cystic fibrosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63666/25]
1002. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Health the specific types of blood tests that are covered by a medical card; the tests that are excluded; if her Department has issued guidance to GPs on the correct charging procedures for medical card holders in relation to blood tests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61406/25]
1102. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has considered the recent €10 increase in pension rates when determining the income threshold for qualifying for a medical card; if the threshold will be adjusted accordingly to reflect this increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61976/25]
423. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department has taken steps to amend medical card eligibility to recognise clinically based eligibility with parity to income and automatically include cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60612/25]
481. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number entitled to a medical card; the uptake since eligibility was extended to those on a median income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60877/25]
1644. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current policy regarding charges for routine blood tests for medical card holders; if she is aware of any discrepancy between information provided by the HSE, which states that routine blood tests should be free of charge and guidance issued by an organisation (details supplied) which indicates that phlebotomy services for routine blood tests are not covered…
1673. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the areas in which it is not possible for medical card holders to get free access to vasectomies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58026/25]
1713. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health to consider making melatonin available through the general medical card for neurodiverse children to assist with sleeping; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58109/25]
1749. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to introducing specific concessions or exemptions to the income thresholds for medical card eligibility for individuals employed in the mental health sector, particularly in view of the additional hours often required in these roles; the provisions that will allow such workers to increase their working hours without automatically l…
1760. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health the average annual cost of providing a Health (Amendment) Act 2020 (HAA) card, per person; the number of people who have the HAA card as of the latest data available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58325/25]
1761. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health the average annual cost of providing a medical card, per person; the number of people who have a medical card, as of latest data available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58326/25]
1762. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a discretionary medical card can be awarded to all polio survivors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58331/25]
1791. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the case of a medical card application that was refused on means will be examined for a person (details supplied). [58581/25]
2036. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if all persons residing in Ireland under temporary protection from Ukraine are automatically issued medical cards; if there is any means-testing applied; the way in which this entitlement compares with the eligibility criteria for Irish citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59893/25]
2037. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she considers it fair and consistent with Irish and EU law that persons residing in Ireland under temporary protection from Ukraine are automatically issued medical cards, while Irish citizens are required to meet a means test; if any legal advice has been sought on whether this differential treatment constitutes discrimination on grounds of nationality or res…
2038. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she will review the policy under which temporary protection recipients automatically receive medical cards, with a view to ensuring that taxpayers who have contributed to the health system are given equitable access to medical cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59895/25]
2039. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total annual cost to the Exchequer of issuing medical cards to persons under temporary protection from Ukraine; the expected duration of this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59896/25]
2054. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing a medical card specifically for ostomy patients to ensure access to necessary supplies. [59991/25]