John Kelly (Labour)

In recent weeks many other Senators and I have raised the issue of delays in processing medical card application since the function was transferred to the primary care reimbursement service, PCRS, in Finglas. On a related matter, I recently found out that persons participating in the farm assist scheme were automatically entitled to a medical card and that had been the position for years. They are considered to be persons on social welfare and as a result, regardless of the fact that all social welfare payments exceed the medical card guidelines, entitled to a medical card. The same applies to a married couple in receipt of invalidity pension, although both of them could be in receipt of €460 a week. The guidelines include a figure of €266, but because such persons are on social welfare they receive a medical card. I am now led to believe farm assist scheme recipients are being means-tested and that because their social welfare payment exceeds the medical card guidelines, they are being refused a medical card.

Another issue of which I have been made aware recently is that sons and daughters up to the age of 25 years who are living at home and on the maximum rate of unemployment assistance for that age category are being brought into a means-tested category in that their parents will also be means-tested. In order to receive a social welfare payment the family income has to be assessed. They receive the full amount which means the family does not have-----