Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Not at all. We are talking about discretionary medical cards. People with pressing clinical needs are being put under undue or severe pressure. In many circumstances where an illness is life-threatening, people simply do not have the cover or finances to meet the exceptional medical expenses involved. Such expenses could include travelling for treatment at one of the centres of excellence, or the increased financial pressure on a family circle due to such a situation. If one combines that with significant outgoings for adult children in third level institutions, it all adds up to very difficult circumstances for far too many families.

The Minister of State should review this decision. Given the number of discretionary medical cards granted compared to those withdrawn, the statistics graphically illustrate the difficulties involved. The situation needs to be addressed urgently because there are too many families under severe stress. They are under stress due to attending an oncology unit or suffering from motor neurone disease. They are on the financial margins in terms of eligibility for a medical card. Such circumstances lead to undue and unfair stress on too many people.

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