Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want answers ion another matter as well, which is the services, material and items normally provided under the medical card scheme in nursing homes. We were promised a reply on that. This has come up a number of times, and it is really frustrating. One issue around that needs to be clarified relates to the contracts that the HSE has with the private nursing homes. The officials were supposed to clarify that, and they have not come back with it. I have not seen clarification in that regarding, or how it is policed and managed. There seems to be a problem with that in respect of people who have medical card entitlements. That would mean the majority of patients in private nursing homes, while people over 70 are automatically have them in many cases. think the thresholds are higher. Those questions have not been answered for us. I ask that, if it is agreed by the committee, we would request that information as well, along with Deputy Carthy's proposal.