Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Galway qualifies for a medical card; and if so, if one will be provided. [4302/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff who were originally allocated to process applications for medical cards in respect of the over 70 years; the number of additional staff who were recruited to deal with the backlog of applications within this new system; the original budgetary allocation for this new system; the additional moneys that have been allocated for additional staff to assist in clearing the backlog; the amounts of money that have been spent on additional staff overtime or time off in lieu; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4304/10]

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of management within the Health Service Executive at which the decision was taken to restructure the application process for medical cards for the over 70 years; the level of resource planning that was put in place to administer this new process; the budget that was initially allocated; the timeframe that was envisaged for the implementation of this new administrative system; the timeframe that was envisaged to process medical cards for the over 70 years under this system in view of the fact that medical cards for older people account for approximately 10% of medical card applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4305/10]

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to transfer the processing time of all medical card and general practitioner cards application to the Health Service Executive primary care reimbursement service; if she will give an undertaking that this proposed new system of processing of all medical card and GP visit card applications will not be subject to the inefficiencies experienced with the transfer of the issuing of medical cards for the over 70 years; the number of staff that have been allocated and trained to deal with all medical card and GP visit card applications from April 2010; the budget that has been allocated for this; the number of staff that have been allocated; if the have received the necessary training and support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4306/10]

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff in local health offices who will now be displaced as a result of her proposed changes to the administration of medical cards and general practitioner visit cards; the number of staff in the Health Service Executive West located at Newcastle, County Galway that will be redeployed; if there has been an agreement at local level for these proposed changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4307/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 to 67, inclusive, together.

I fully support the Health Service Executive's decision to centralise the processing of all medical card applications and reviews. I wrote to all Oireachtas members on 17th January 2010 outlining a range of measures being employed by the Executive to address issues arising from this initiative and I also referred to the various enhancements that this process will facilitate upon completion.

The other issues raised by the Deputy are service matters. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address these matters and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.