Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is true. In 2016 there was a target of 95% of medical cards properly completed - I will deal with that point in a moment - and being processed and turned around within 15 days. The actual out-turn was 89.6%, so it fell short of the target. We have set a target of 96% for 2017. The point that Deputy O'Reilly makes is valid. We all see it in our work as Deputies, where people feel that they have submitted all of the paperwork only to get another query back. I visited the primary care reimbursement centre, PCRS, and in fairness to it a number of improvements have been made in recent years after a very difficult birth, if I might call it that, relating to the centralisation of the service, including the application number one receives and the way in which one can track the application online. Those are improvements. I do not know whether the committee has been out to the PCRS centre for a meeting with management there, but I would very much welcome its input on how it can improve. I know that Deputy Durkan has strong views on this. The quick turnaround is in the interest of everyone. The size of the operation in terms of the scale of correspondence we are dealing with is very significant.