Marie Moloney (Labour)

The length of time taken to process medical card applications is outrageous and simply not acceptable. What proposals does the Minister have to remove the significant delays in the central processing office dealing with medical card applications?

Since the cutbacks in dental treatment services in 2010, does the Minister propose to increase the funding available given the extra 120,000 people who have subsequently acquired a medical card? Why is there such a long waiting list for orthodontic treatment for children?

Does the Minister plan to revamp the home help scheme in order that in all cases the needy will receive sufficient hours of care to avoid the necessity of being institutionalised? Home helps have recently been prohibited from administering medication or providing drinks via a peg feed, leaving people in danger of dehydration. Why has this been allowed to happen?