asked the Minister for Health if he will make medical cards available as of right to all handicapped and disabled people.

Under the Health Act, 1970, an adult person is entitled to a medical card if, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the health board, it would be an undue hardship on him to provide general practitioner service for himself and his dependants. If the degree of handicap or disability results in such hardship the person is already eligible for a medical card, and may qualify for further assistance.

Persons suffering from prescribed long-term diseases and disabilities, but who do not qualify for medical cards, can obtain drugs, medicines and appliances free of charge.

Where the presence of handicap or disability is made known to a health board, account will be taken of this in assessing an application for a medical card.

In these circumstances I do not propose to accede to the Deputy's request.

Would the Minister ask the health board to give special consideration and not to apply the terms too rigidly? I know there is provision for this but in the case of the handicapped and disabled there should be a greater degree of flexibility.

I accept what the Deputy says. We have done this in other cases and I will do it once again.

Is there a definition of a "disabled person" for the purpose of issuing medical cards?

If they come within the eligibility for particular cover, they are defined in that sense. The Deputy is raising the question of people who do not come within that term and this is obviously more difficult to define. I will raise the matter with the health boards.

4.