Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Even in the worst days of the recession, we managed to retain the existing income limits in 2011 and 2012 and it is difficult to understand how three Ministers in the Department could allow two substantial cuts to take place. That was disgraceful at a time they were talking about improving access to medical services, especially for people with medical needs.

The Minister of State referred to the GP visit card. It is not of much use to those aged over 70 because they still face substantial drugs costs and the issue is ensuring access to community services. She said nothing in her reply that indicates that work is being done in this regard. If work is ongoing, people should at least be permitted to retain their medical card until an alternative system is put in place.

Proper access for people needs to be ensured. The Minister of State said that if somebody loses a medical card, he or she can apply on discretionary grounds. Over the past few weeks, I have dealt with several people who have serious medical conditions. I am dealing with one couple in their 80s. The husband is in hospital and the wife is dealing with her own medical conditions. They are expected to find supporting evidence for a new application. They have been told to apply using the under 70s income limits. Rather than people in those circumstances being put through the mill and expected to produce all this documentation while their cover has been removed, the Minister of State should at least introduce a system, if she is not going to ensure net income is used, whereby the medical expenses of those aged over 70 are taken into consideration. That is the key issue. If a person has substantial medical expenses, there should be a way to take them into account while considering their application using the over 70s income limits.

The application of income limits currently is too rigid. They are applied on a gross basis and there is no room to consider medical expenses. The Minister of State is causing huge hardship to people at a time they feel vulnerable and have serious medical conditions. It is wrong that she is putting so many elderly people through the mill like this. I ask her to give this issue her urgent attention.

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