Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I submitted a parliamentary question. It is of key importance to people in the mid west that some clarity is brought to bear on this because it is quite a hefty fee to face after a hospital stay in St. Camillus's hospital, which has been there for over two centuries. It took a lot of us by surprise to hear that a charge has been set for people when they are discharged.

I know that earlier in the meeting, Mr. Ryan outlined the review of medical cards. Is there an algorithm for the sample of medical cards - the 20% or so that the HSE reviews each year? Some cases merit review because people's health situations or incomes may change but is there an algorithm or trigger that initiates a review? For many people, it is fine but for others, certainly people of a certain age category, it can be a huge stressor to find out that the medical card upon which they lean so heavily is under review and is under threat of being taken from them. What are the criteria or what is the algorithm used to select the 20% of cards that are reviewed each year?