Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the witnesses will understand, I specifically linked the question to medical cards. All elderly people aged over 70 years are entitled to a medical card. My impression is that when people in private nursing homes seek some of these items or services, the operator will say they cost extra as they are not covered under the fair deal scheme. Do the witnesses get my point? These items are not covered under the fair deal scheme. People who have a legitimate medical card are not getting the use of the services to which they are entitled. They tend to be told that dental services are not covered under the fair deal scheme and they tend to leave it at that and suffer in silence. Maybe the family or someone else will pay the cost but the medical card does not seem to come into play very much. The witnesses are arguing that theoretically the medical card should come into play. Do they understand my concern for elderly people?