Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2026
129. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she believes that sick children should be treated equally irrespective of their parents’ ability to pay for healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52179/26]
View answerThe Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for people ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cards holders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is assessed by the HSE and determined primarily by reference to income limits. Apart from prescribed drugs and medicines, which are subject to a prescription charge, public health services are provided free of charge to medical card holders.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses, but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
It should be noted that all children for whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance is paid and children under 18 diagnosed with cancer qualify automatically for a medical card. Furthermore, GP visit card eligibility was extended from all children under 6 to children under 8 and public inpatient charges in public hospitals have been abolished.
