Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify the position with respect to the Medical Hardship Fund; if it applies to persons not qualifying for a medical card seeking assistance with daily hospital in-patient charges and prescriptions charges; the criteria and so on which apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25367/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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While there is no scheme known as the Medical Hardship Fund, the granting of a medical card is based on the avoidance of undue hardship on the part of cardholders in meeting their medical needs. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of general practice consultations. Medical card holders are exempted from payment of in patient charges and their prescribed drugs and medicines are provided free of charge.

In addition, people in the following categories are exempt from payment of in-patient charges:

women receiving services in respect of motherhood;

children up to the age of six weeks;

children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school health examinations;

children suffering from diseases or disabilities prescribed under section 52 (2) of the Health Act 1970;

persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases prescribed under the Health Act, 1947;

long-stay patients who are already subject to a charge; and

holders of a Health (Amendment) Act Card

Furthermore, under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), which was introduced in 1999, no individual or family unit pays more than €100 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme is easy to use and significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has data in relation to the average time for the processing of a medical card application in each of the Health Service Executive areas; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that five to six months appears to be standard; if this is incorrect; and the reason the application of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 submitted in January 2009 has still not been decided on. [25366/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department. I would point out however, that the number of persons applying for a medical card has increased greatly in recent months due to the downturn in the economy and the associated rise in the live register. In the first five months of 2009 there was a net increase of 46,566 medical card holders and 4,491 GP visit card holders. There are now over 1.39 million persons with a medical card and over 90,000 persons with a GP visit card.

Up to the start of this year, medical card and GP visit card applications were processed in the 32 local health areas. However, under the Health Service Executive's 2009 Service Plan, the processing of medical card and GP visit card applications will be centralised in the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin. The change is being implemented on a phased basis and has commenced with the PCRS processing all applications for persons aged 70 and over.

Under the new arrangements, the HSE will be aiming for a turnaround time of 15 days or less for all applications. Emergency applications will be dealt with immediately with a card issuing within 24 hours.

The HSE has the operational responsibility for the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. Accordingly, my Department has asked the Parliamentary Affairs Unit of the Executive to address the issues raised, and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.