James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister assure the House that the funding put in place to address the issue of Traveller health will be used for that purpose? Previously, money had been siphoned off into other areas. As alluded to by my colleague, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, the HSE has a hold on policy in that when money is not spent in a policy directive area, it can use it elsewhere. There are ways and means to not spend money. We have seen it not only in this case, but in terms of palliative care and mental health services.

Given that income plays a large role in health outcomes, does the Minister intend to change the income threshold for the medical card, which currently stands at a little more than half the minimum wage? Anyone who is prepared to work full-time is not entitled to a medical card. Sometimes, part-time workers are not entitled to it.

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