Mr. John Hennessy:

The prescription charges are there as well with targets to be achieved. Under medical cards and probity, there are two figures: €23 million under normal probity, which is being achieved and is on track, and €25 million for the over 70s change in the guidelines announced in the budget. We are on track to achieve our targets for 2014.

As I said earlier, we are trying always to get a balance between control and customer service. People are alerted by letter three months before a review of their medical card. In the case of the over 70s, they are alerted four months out. This is to give them notice their card is up for review, that they need to complete the forms and return them by a specified date. The forms are relatively straightforward and I invite anyone to take a look at them. I agree they are comprehensive but if one’s circumstances are straightforward, such as a pension income, one skips whole sections of the form and goes through to the signature part at the end.

Up to 70% of the cards that are reviewed are done so by self-assessment, as in one signs the form and returns it. The other 30% are full assessment. If a card is being withdrawn, one is notified by letter twice. People do not go into a pharmacy to be told their card is being withdrawn without having received two letters.