Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am not in a position to accept amendments Nos. 18 and 19 because the 28 days they specify for a claim to be processed in could become immediately unrealistic and unmanageable, recognising this is one of the largest schemes in the State, with 34,000 potential applicants. We will do everything we can to process applications as quickly as possible but we have to acknowledge the scale of the scheme and the number of potential applicants.

Everything is being done in my Department to make sure we have a comprehensive administrative infrastructure to operate the scheme and that it opens as soon as possible after the legislation is passed. The scheme will have to deal with tens of thousands of pages of records. To say we can do it at all times within 28 days, particularly at the start of the scheme, is not realistic. We are committed to moving as quickly as possible, so we can look to examining timeframes and providing for them in regulations, but they would have to be lengthier than 28 days. That is not a realistic timeframe within which to commit to delivering for all people.

In terms of amendment No. 19, it is important to say there is already a provision for prioritisation. Section 16(3)(b) allows the Chief Medical Officer to prioritise on the basis of age or state of health of the applicant. Somebody could be under the age of 75 that is set out in the amendment but be in a perilous state of health. The flexibility provided for the chief deciding officer in 16(3)(b) is more appropriate so I do not propose to accept amendment No. 19.

On amendment No. 23, I will ask my officials to engage in work further to that they are already undertaking with respect to the technical requirements of individuals providing their PPSN to the chief deciding officer in order, where relevant, to receive the enhanced medical card. Once this work has been completed, I may bring a technical amendment on Report Stage to provide any necessary clarity required around the use of PPSNs for the scheme.

I may bring a technical amendment on Report Stage to provide clarity on the data processing the HSE will engage in by virtue of the fact it will be providing a service to qualifying applicants under section 29(3). I may also bring minor amendments to sections 31 and 34 on Report Stage to provide further clarity on, respectively, the circumstances under which an application may be made on behalf of a relevant person and the deemed withdrawal of an application in circumstances where an applicant ceases to engage thereon.