Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for her reply which included some positive elements, particularly the four year eligibility period for medical card holders aged 66 years and over and the extension of the self-assessment process to include those above that age. However, not everybody over 66 years should have to undertake an assessment. Instead, assessments should be made at random, as is the case with the Revenue Commissioners in respect of tax returns.

The Minister of State painted the new centralised processing facility in Finglas in a very positive light. Unfortunately, that does not tally with the experience of service users. If there is a need to redeploy more staff to the unit, it should be done. As it is, it is neither efficient nor effective.

I welcome the Minister of State's undertaking that there will be no more cases of people losing their medical card before the review period is complete. What concrete steps will be taken to ensure the 15-day turnaround time is achieved in all cases? I know from my constituency office that most medical card applications are 100% complete when submitted, yet additional items of information are being requested before they are processed. There is a certain view, not entirely unjustified, that these delays are part of a stalling strategy the purpose of which is to secure cost savings. Will the Minister confirm that there is no cynical tactic on the part of the Government in this regard? To employ such a tactic would be despicable.

This is an issue affecting the most vulnerable in society, including seriously ill persons who cannot afford to wait for their medical card to be granted or renewed. I acknowledge that there are occasions when applications are submitted without all of the necessary information, in which cases one cannot expect an answer within 15 days. However, in the case of fully completed application forms, the 15-day turnaround target should always be met.

See this speech in context