Ms Anne Marie Hoey:

There are a couple of systems for those aged over 70 years. There is the gross income application form, with which if people are not successful, they can make a net income application. Failing that, everybody in the group is eligible for the GP care.

We have started a project with the Department of Social Protection to enhance links. During the course of next year we will reduce our reliance on people having to submit information on Department of Social Protection benefits as we will be able to obtain it directly from the Department.

Deputy Seamus Healy has mentioned that call takers may not be able to see the additional information required. In the past few weeks we have enhanced the system and all additional information coming to us is scanned such that call takers can see exactly what information has been submitted. If somebody sends evidence of a payslip or of whatever was missing in the first instance, it will be available to the call taker if somebody calls to ask if the information has been received. They can then say "Yes" and give an indication as to when the application will be processed and a decision made for communication to the individual concerned.