Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Murphy referred to services. It is very difficult to comment on an individual case but I entirely trust Deputy Murphy with regard to the veracity of what she stated regarding the case. The point is the services which the individual needs, such as access to physiotherapy, equipment, various devices and a wheelchair, and this is what we must ensure the person gets. We are inclined to reduce this entire debate to an actual physical card. I know that traditionally it has been the gateway to all of these services, but we want to ensure that services are there irrespective of holding a medical card on the basis of need. I will not trespass for a moment on the individual and family, even though we have not stated who it is. In circumstances where a family's means are above, perhaps significantly so, the income test, it still should have access to the services. This is what we seek to do.

An issue which comes up in many cases, and I am not stating it is in this particular case, is people do not realise that even if they do not qualify for a medical card, they may qualify under the long-term illness scheme, which is hugely important and people need to know about it. I am not speaking about the case raised by Deputy Murphy. I am making a general point that there seems to be a gap in the information flow to people. They may not be entitled to a medical card but they may be entitled to other services and we need to join up all of this.

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