Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the clerk for the work done on the reports. On the medical card issue, anomalies were referred to. It is touched upon in the report but perhaps there should be a few recommendations.

There is an inconsistency in the way in which the over-70s are dealt with for discretionary cards compared with the under-70s. A person over 70 who applies is either granted or not granted a card purely on income grounds, not on medical grounds. People can appeal on income grounds, but not on medical grounds. People who wish to apply on medical grounds have to make a completely fresh application and they lose the card before they can make that application. Those under 70 who have a card that is up for review can appeal and hold the medical card for the duration of the review.

The system needs to be streamlined whereby people over 70 can apply for the normal over-70s card and the discretionary card at the same time and be able to hold their card until both applications have been processed. At the moment I am finding that the over-70s are losing their medical card and it can take a significant period of time before they get it back on discretionary grounds.

Another small anomaly is for people over 80 years of age. They get an extra €10 a week in their social welfare and can find that they qualify for a medical card at 79 but no longer qualify at 80, when one would expect their health might deteriorate, because they are getting an extra €10 a week.

There is a need for consistency within the system. On the over-70s card, there should be some transition measure for people turning 80. In addition, people over 70 should be entitled to apply for a discretionary card at the same time they apply for a normal over-70s card, which is purely income-based. Like everybody who is under 70, they should retain their card until both applications are processed. I have no doubt the Chairman would be aware of this in practice on the ground. It is an issue that concerns that age group.