Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony for her support for the legislation to address the provision of a medical card for those in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance. This is an issue that unifies the House. The Bill is welcome and we will get it through both Houses as quickly as possible. The Deputy is correct to highlight the review. It is very important for the almost 10,000 parents who are in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance for the care of their child, who does not have a medical card. I meet in my clinics many people who must keep reapplying for the medical card, because the card is reviewed every three years. Now they will have certainly from the age, the child is granted a domiciliary care allowance until the age of 16 years. That will save parents a great deal of unnecessary stress due to uncertainty and the bureaucracy. That is important.

The HSE is working on an online registration system, similar to the free GP care, so that people will log on. The Department of Social Protection together with the HSE will be able to share information and cross check information. If one is in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance, the HSE will be able to verify that with the Department of Social Protection. This will reduce form filling, which is important.

Let me assure Deputy O'Reilly that the time it has taken to introduce this scheme is not due to monetary consideration. While I presume the Deputy could be correct about the figure of €17 million-----