James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Without going into specifics, I think the Senator knows where I am going.

I was asked about medical cards for the over-70s and whether net or gross pay would apply. It will be superseded by the roll-out of GP care. I will allow the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, to address these issues.

Let me make some general comments on the medical card issue. The legislation concerning under six year olds is going through, which is to be welcomed. As regards legislation, if required - it probably will be - for the over-70s, we already have consensus at the Cabinet that this should be done. We also have the expert panel and the issue of those with medical needs. That is a real change in approach because up to now, as the Minister of State and I have made clear, it has been means-tested based on income. Medical conditions are taken into consideration only in so far as they create financial hardship but not in terms of the much greater hardship many chronic diseases and life-long conditions create for families. That development is to be welcomed.

I was listening to somebody on radio this morning who said the ethical thing was to look after the most vulnerable and those who were sick first. That will precisely be the net result of what the Government is planning to do. The highest numbers of users of the service are the over-70s and the under-threes and both groups are included. In addition, it will include the many people with life-long conditions, including chronic illnesses, who because of their medical condition face real hardship in life unrelated to their income. I welcome this development and I am sure the Minister of State will want to address the matter more comprehensively.

Deputy Robert Dowds mentioned the mobility allowance which I addressed in a Topical Issue debate yesterday. The Government is doing a lot of work on it in conjunction with the groups involved to develop a new scheme. The old one was left sitting there and the Ombudsman had serious concerns about its legality in terms of issues related to equality of access. Unlike previous Governments that ignored it, we are dealing with it. In the meantime, recipients have the money ring-fenced for them. The longer the issue drags on, the more people will be able to apply to avail of it. However, as there is no system in place for them to take advantage of it, the matter is being progressed. I expect to receive a report to deal with it in the coming months.

As regards Deputy Ciara Conway's question, I am disappointed to hear cardiac catheterisation treatment has been cancelled. I will ask the deputy director general of the HSE, Ms Laverne McGuinness, and Dr. Tony O'Connell, the director of hospitals, to address the issues around dermatology and cardiac catheterisation. I know appointments have been agreed to. I agree with the Deputy's sentiment that the hospital group should be functioning in a manner that allows it to help the dermatology service by bringing a dermatologist to Waterford from Cork. It would have my full support in that regard.

Mr. Pat Healy will deal with the issue of early intervention.

Deputy Seamus Healy raised questions about medical cards with which the Minister of State will deal.