Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Nobody on this side of the House has ever refused to recognise there is an issue in regard to discretionary medical card provision. As I indicated in my reply, we accept that some people have been found to be ineligible following a review of the medical card granted to them under the discretionary process. We are not denying there is an issue, but we have sought to show that the extent of the problem is nothing like as widespread as has been suggested in some quarters. Something in the order of 6% of persons who held a discretionary medical card in 2011 have lost it as of 2014. It certainly is a problem for the people who are impacted, as I acknowledged last night during the Private Members' debate. Where people who had access to a card for a lengthy period lose it, there is a real dilemma for them, particularly in circumstances where there is a disability or illness.

The Minister has asked the Health Service Executive to explore ways of introducing packages of integrated care to ensure people who have lost access to a medical card can still access the services they need. That is what is happening. As to reports in the media of third tiers, second tiers or any other tiers, I cannot speculate about that.

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