Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On page 2 of the presentation there is a reference to 86% of applicants being successful and not needing help. People coming to my office need help. The most common complaint I get is that the application is sent back and they have to start all over again within three months, getting bank statements and so on. They find that very difficult.

It always surprises me to read that 1.729 million people have medical cards and 573,000 have the general medical service, GMS, card. That is 2 million of the 5 million living in Ireland. It is a large number but sometimes when I am knocking on doors or am in my office listening I get the feeling that nobody has medical cards.