Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State. It is proposed to refurbish St. Catherine's Ward in the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon, a public institution with 200 beds which is doing tremendous work. This refurbishment will bring about a much needed development. It is also proposed to provide an Alzheimer's unit in the hospital. It is an excellent facility and one I hope the Minister of State can visit sometime in his term of office in the not too distant future.

In respect of medical cards, I recommend that people apply for doctor-only medical cards, which have only attracted 55,798 people when 200,000 cards were originally promised.