Medical Cards

If you have a medical card issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE), you can get certain health services free of charge. Normally, your dependent spouse or partner and your children are also covered for the same range of health services. Anyone who is ‘ordinarily resident’ in Ireland can apply for a medical card. This means that you are living in Ireland and intend to live here for at least one year. To qualify for a medical card, your weekly income must be below a certain figure for your family size.

What income is assessed in the means test?

Cash income, savings, investments and property (except for your own home) are taken into account in the means test. There are weekly income limits depending on your household size and there are also allowable expenses, including childcare costs, rent and mortgage payments which will increase your income limit. Income from savings, investments or property of €36,000 for a single person or €72,000 for a couple is disregarded. You should speak to your local Citizens Information Centre to get more information on how the means test would apply in your personal circumstances.

If your only income is from social welfare allowances or benefits or HSE allowances, you should be granted a medical card even though your payment may be over the income guidelines for your age and situation.

How are young people, aged 16-25, including students assessed?

If you are aged 16–25 and dependent on a parent or guardian, you are eligible for a medical card if your parent or guardian has a medical card. (This does not apply if their income is above the means test limit and they have a discretionary medical card.) If you are already included on your family's card, you will be sent your own card when you turn 16.

If you live with your parent or guardian and you have an income over the medical card income limit for a single person living with family, you are considered financially independent and the usual means test applies.

If you are not living with or dependent on a parent or guardian, then you are considered as financially independent, regardless of income, and your application is assessed using the standard means test.

Is it easier for someone aged over 70 to qualify for a medical card?

There is a more generous means test for people aged over 7O. If you are aged 70 or over you qualify for a medical card, if your gross income is not more than €550 a week if you are single or not more than €1050 a week for a couple.

The assessment of a couple for medical card purposes is based on the age of the older person so if one of you is aged 70 or older, you will both qualify for a medical card, if your combined gross income is €1050 or less a week.

What is a ‘discretionary medical card’?

If your income is above the limit, you may still be able to get a medical card if your circumstances would result in financial hardship without one. This is sometimes called a discretionary medical card.

The application process for the discretionary medical card is the same as for the means tested medical card, but you should also include a medical report and information about your family’s medical expenses in your application. There is a standard medical report template form, which your GP can fill in, available on www2.hse.ie. Discretionary medical cards are issued for a specific time frame. The time frame will depend on your circumstances.

Under what circumstances can you get an Emergency Medical Card?

There are some emergency situations where you can get help outside of the normal medical card application process. You can get an emergency medical card if you:

• have a terminal illness and have been told you have 24 months or less to live

• are receiving end-of-life treatment

• need urgent ongoing care and urgently need a medical card

What is a GP Visit Card?

If you are not eligible for a medical card you may be eligible for a GP visit card. A GP visit card allows you to visit a participating family doctor (GP) for free however, prescribed drugs are not free. The GP visit card does cover visits to GP out of hours services. Blood tests to diagnose or monitor a condition are covered.

Who can get a GP visit card?

• All children under the age of 6 can get a GP visit card.

• If you get Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance, at full or half-rate, you are eligible for a GP visit card.

• The GP visit card is available to everyone aged over 70 without an income test.

• If you are aged under 70, eligibility for the GP visit card is means tested. That is, your income is assessed by the HSE as part of the application process. You should contact your local Citizens Information Centre for more detailed information about the means-test. In order to qualify for a GP visit card, you must meet the eligibility rules and be ordinarily resident in Ireland. That is, you must have been, or intend to be, living in Ireland for at least one year.

Accommodation Manager

We are currently inviting applications for an experienced Accommodation Manager to join and lead our accommodation team.

The ideal candidate will have previous accommodation management experience in in a luxury 4/5* hotel and be able to further enhance the very high standards already in place. Candidate profile:

• The ideal candidate will have the following experience in a similar role:

• 3+ years experience in a similar role.

• 3-5 years accommodation managerial experience coming from 4/5 star background.

• Good accommodation department knowledge is essential.

• Proven experience in leading a large team.

• Excellent It Skills including a proficient user of MS O ce and excel.

• Experience with Hotsoft and Serviator is a bonus.

• Full, clean driving license required.

• Exceptional attention to detail, organisational, negotiation and communication skills are a must including fluent spoken and written English.

Apply online on the career page by scaning the QR code or in confidence to: careers@sheenfallslodge.ie

This is an excellent role and opportunity for an experienced Accommodation Manager seeking to further their career.

Reaching Our Dreams Together.

We look forward to meeting extraordinarily talented candidates. We are now recruiting for the following positions:

Assistant Sales Manager

Kitchen Porter Accounts & Payroll Administrator

For information on our Industry Leading Employee Benefits or to apply with us, visit careers.killarneyhotels.ie or email jobs@killarneyhotels.ie

Holbein Carpentry & Joinery are happy to announce, that we are now hiring in the following position:

Kitchen And Furniture Fitter

Holbein Carpentry & Joinery is a third generation, family run business, which has seen continued growth over the past number of years. We strive to produce high quality and timeless bespoke joinery by developing our customer’s vision through adaptive design. The suitable candidate for this position will be joining our enthusiastic and hard-working team, based in the beautiful and vibrant town of Kenmare. Holbein Carpentry strives for excellence and best practice in every aspect of the business. LEAN manufacturing, continuous improvement, safety and attention to detail are core company values.

This position is a unique opportunity for the right candidate to perform the following skills & tasks:

• Upkeep company van and tools which will be provided

• Travelling to site locations throughout Kerry and South-West Cork

• Maintain health & safety standards and procedures at all times

• Fitting of our varied rage of bespoke products providing new experiences for each project

• Read and interpret manufacturing drawings to fit bespoke furniture and joinery in domestic and commercial buildings

• Ensure all measurements and installations are accurate

• Make sure quality standards are adhered to and strive to exceed expectations

• Liaise with clients and external consultants, where required

• Reporting of any delivery issues promptly

• Complete and finalize any snagging

• Maintenance of hardcopy drawings on site and filing after projects are finished

• Receive support and mentoring from our experienced team

• Occasionally help out in the workshop, when no fitting on site is required

Requirements for the position are:

• Previous experience in a similar role is essential

• Proven ability to read and understand manufacturing drawings/CAD drawings

• Desire to strive for excellence and good attention to detail, to consistently meet high quality/quantity performance standards

• Excellent communication and organisation skills

• Be physically fit and highly motivated

• Flexibility and ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team

• Full clean driving licence

• Safe Pass, Manual Handling and Abrasive Wheel training are mandatory

• Availability to travel

• Be fluent in English both verbal and written

Gross starting salary is dependent on education and experience. The Site Fitter position requires travelling within Kerry and Cork, on a daily basis. A reasonable level of overtime may be required at mornings or evenings, to ensure the fulfilment of projects in a timely manner.

Assistance with relocating can be provided.

If you feel that this role would suit you, we would love to hear from you and discuss the possibility of joining our team. Applications will be accepted up until the 23rd August 2023. Please email your CV and cover letter to: office@holbein.ie