Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I explained this process to the Deputy before. The budget takes place and Votes go through in respect of the ceilings for each Department. The HSE prepares its draft report based on those figures and submits it to the Minister for Health. The Minister examines the draft proposition and recommends changes or amendments thereto, and he either signs off on it or does not. The Minister engaged in very careful consideration of the draft report by the HSE and made recommendations for changes to it. Following the amendment of the report, he approved the service plan for 2014.

The question of the €113 million that was allocated in respect of the probity issue concerning medical cards is one of serious importance for people around the country. The position was that when this was included in the budgetary figures in the first instance, it was subject to a process of examination. The Minister for Health examined this, in accordance with his duty, both from within the Department and from the point of view of the HSE. He found that the figure of €113 million in savings in respect of medical cards was not achievable. Owing to that, a change was brought about.

The position is that €47 million was available from the Department of Social Protection because of the drop in the number on the live register and savings made in that Department by its Minister, Deputy Joan Burton. Only 22 cards in the entire country were returned voluntarily because of changes of circumstances, such as somebody getting a better job or benefiting from a rise in income. There are more medical cards issued now than ever before. Therefore, the normal process of the validation of eligibility will continue. I do not suppose the Deputy is expecting me to say that the Minister should have changed the eligibility criteria for medical cards, because he did not do so. There will be an ongoing review of medical cards, as has always been the case. However, the figure that was included in the original budget was not acceptable to the Minister, so he changed it. That is a good thing.

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