Marie Moloney (Labour)

It is true. A member of my family went to have a minor procedure performed which involved the removal of a small particle from an eye. When the object was removed with a cotton bud, the patient was informed that this procedure was covered by VHI. We supplied the VHI number and we received a statement from the VHI which was three times the amount the patient had been asked to pay if he had been paying for it himself. This is not good enough. We reported this payment amount to the VHI and the VHI did nothing about it. A lady in Kerry told me she wrote to the VHI to inform the company that she was being charged for procedures that were never carried out. She contacted the VHI by telephone and yet the company did nothing about it and the bill was paid. If the VHI is State-owned then we must take upon ourselves to instruct the VHI it must investigate legitimate complaints.

I presume the tax credits are deducted at source because otherwise they are of no benefit to an elderly person who does not pay tax. I ask the Minister of State to confirm this.