Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

The figure is 16 and a number of the people will be replaced.

I would like to address the medical card issue. As I said on previous occasions, I am conscious of the serious difficulties that have resulted for many patients because of the centralisation of medical card services and the level of service provided in recent times has not been acceptable. A review of the services, processes and systems in the PCRS office is under way and we hope to have an outcome from that shortly. Notwithstanding that, I have visited the PCRS on four different occasions recently, as has the Minister. Senior officials form the HSE and the PCRS have been also called into the Department on a number of occasions. We have engaged closely with the HSE to address the current position, which I acknowledge is not acceptable.

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