Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and his staff, and the director general of the HSE, Mr. Tony O'Brien, and his staff. With an 8% increase in the population it is very important we maintain our front-line services and that the patients get the quality services they deserve. I welcome the news that 420,000 children will benefit from the new GP card for the under-5s. The Minister has stated it should come into operation in May. How much will it cost to introduce medical cards for these 420,000 children? I welcome the €35 million being provided for 60,000 medical cards. Does that mean an extra 60,000 medical cards will be issued in 2014? More than 90% of the over-70s are covered by either a medical card or a GP card. To qualify for that card, a single person is allowed to earn up to €500 per week, and a couple €900 per week. I met many elderly people over Christmas and they are very concerned about their medical cards. As the Minister stated earlier, with the number of over-65s increasing by one fifth, what is the long-term future of medical cards for the over-70s?

Will any disability services suffer in 2014? How many hours of personal assistance home support is being provided in 2014? What will be the differences between 2013 and 2014? Will respite services be reduced in 2014? The nursing home support scheme, which supports more than 22,000 people in long-term residential care, will reduce the number of people supported in long-stay care by 700, but will support an additional 1,000 people to continue to live in their own homes. How will this be done and supported? The HSE provides home help and home care packages for 56,000 people at any one time. In 2012 and 2013, 10.3 million home help hours were provided. Will this change in 2014? Are any new posts in mental health services coming on stream? How many additional posts will be filled in 2014 with the additional €20 million in funding?

I welcome the bilateral cochlear implant decision. I thank Ms McGuinness for her comprehensive report. I am delighted to hear the two programmes will begin in May and August. Obesity is a major issue in this and every other country. I plead with the Minister and the director general of the HSE to help combat it. This will benefit everybody in the future.