Mr. Robert Hurley:

I worked all my life, so I did not know anything about the social protection side of it. I was told that if you got a disease that lasted from three to five years that you would get a medical card. I worked all my life for my family. My plan was to still be in the school.

When I went to apply for a medical card I had to answer personal questions. I had to get salaries from my wife who is a teacher of many years. There was all of that stress and, unfortunately, I ended up not getting a medical card. What really annoyed me was that I went through all of this process for six months and I did not fit the criteria. With my dogged nature I got on to the HSE and eventually found out its procedure. I was never going to get a medical card because, ten years ago, we bought a holiday home outside Lahinch, County Clare, for €90,000. They made me get a valuation. We valued the house and it was valued at €400,000 because of Covid and all of the people coming down from Dublin. When I looked at the statement coming back the HSE, it said that I had investment income of €900 per week. The criteria was €800 and that was even without my salary.