Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Hoey and congratulate her on her appointment. She said that the discretionary medical cards have increased by approximately 25,000 since 2014. Has she any figures on how many people would have applied and did not get one? On the over-70s who do not qualify for the general practitioner card, many of whom contact me quite often, under the discretionary medical card people are being told to apply again but for the under-70s section rather than over-70s. Does Ms Hoey understand what I am saying? Are there figures available in respect of people who are over 70, who are turned down and who then told to reapply but for the under-70s section?