Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I want to put on the record of the House my appreciation of the staff in the Minister's office and the HSE in dealing with individual queries concerning medical card applications. However, the system is in absolute chaos which must be addressed quickly.

For the life of me I cannot understand why a review of medical card eligibility must be carried out for those with incurable diseases. What circumstances are going to change? I met a woman who was blind but was asked for further information on the renewal of her medical card application. It is beyond belief that a system would have reviews of medical cards that we know will be granted again. I have no difficulty in people going through a due process when applying for a new medical card. However, those renewing a medical card who are suffering from an incurable disease should be exempt from these reviews. That would allow PCRS officials to deal with the existing backlog for new medical cards. I urge everyone involved to get to grips with this problem.

This week, I had a case of a woman who passed away on Monday morning but the PCRS was looking for further medical evidence from her during the week. The office dealt with it sympathetically but the system should not have allowed that to happen in the first place. Will the Minister resolve the backlog of medical card claims quickly?

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