asked the Minister for Health if a frontier worker is entitled to a medical card to cover her spouse and children in the event of her spouse being in receipt of social welfare allowance, even if the combined income exceeded the eligibility guidelines laid down by the health boards.

In accordance with EC Regulation 1408/71 a person working and insured in Northern Ireland and resident in Ireland is entitled to medical card services in Ireland for himself/herself and members of his/her family unless his/her spouse is also employed or self-employed in Ireland in which case the medical card will only apply to the frontier worker. In that event, the spouse and children will have their entitlements dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Health Acts rather that the EC regulations and will accordingly undergo a means-test to determine eligibility for a medical card.