Results 19,561-19,580 of 26,053 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I know that but if they fail the means grounds they can only apply for a discretionary card once their over 70s card has been withdrawn.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is Mr. Hennessy telling me that they can apply for the discretionary card and they would hold their over 70s card for the duration of that appeal?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am talking about that category.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is a different point. Can I move on to Limerick Regional Hospital because it is an issue I put the witnesses on notice-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: The letter does not state when the card will be withdrawn. Elderly people are getting letters saying they must reply within two or three months. In this case they must have the information back by 16 June. Many elderly people return it early and they get no letter of any description from the HSE stating that their card will be withdrawn.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am dealing with them every day of the week. I know that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: On Limerick Regional Hospital, has Mr. O'Brien read the Health Information and Quality Authority report?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: He is well aware, therefore, that the accident and emergency department in Limerick Regional Hospital is not fit for purpose and that the overcrowding is unacceptable. What is the delay in the new accident and emergency department being built? I understand from the main contractor, Sisk, that the shell of the accident and emergency department is built and ready for a fit-out. Sisk is about...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Why was it not done six months ago? There is an empty shell of a building that will be idle until November. Work should start on that now. Why is that not happening? Why was the procurement process not done earlier?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: In terms of a project of that size and as a Deputy in Limerick, where this issue is of paramount importance, there will be an empty shell of a building until November. I believe that with proper planning the work could start now. I have looked at the building. I am not a builder but I can see clearly that the structure is ready for fit-out. Will Mr. O'Brien examine this issue to see how...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Early 2016. Are we talking-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will Mr. O'Brien look at it to see what can be done to expedite the project because that is 18 months from now? In terms of the overcrowding, we will go through two winters before that accident and emergency department is opened. Everything should be done to see how that project can be expedited.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are we just talking about section 38 organisations?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Then we are talking about €3.2 billion and we are talking about another €900,000.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes, it is €3.2 million and an additional €900,000. Have any of the cases been resolved?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: How many of the 143 cases are unresolved at this stage?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is 58 of the 143, which is approximately 40%. Why is it taking so long?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: If I could just put this in context, the HSE is sending out letters on medical card reviews to those aged over 70. The most recent tranche of letters required a response by 16 June. Today is 12 June which means that is in four days time. If the information is not received by the HSE by 16 June, the medical card will be cancelled by the end of the month. Side by side with that we have 58...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: When was that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (12 Jun 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is not a case of seeing a link but I am making a comparison between how different groups are treated. We deal with people every day of the week. We are there to represent them. At the moment medical card reviews are causing major hardship and anxiety to a large cohort of the population. Is Mr. O’Brien saying that if the organisations can prove the validity of the top-ups, the...