Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied with the reliability and accuracy of a website (details supplied); the set-up cost of same; the operating costs of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28473/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I welcome the introduction of the Health Service Executive's (HSE) new website, www.medicalcard.ie, which enables people anywhere in the country to apply for a medical card on-line. The new website provides for a simple and efficient on-line application process for medical card applicants. On-line assessments will be immediate and for applicants who supply all evidence/documentation and are eligible on income grounds, medical card delivery will be guaranteed within 15 days of receipt of the completed application pack.

The website also has additional facilities which will assist members of the public and speed up the application process such as; new medical card applicants to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) can track the status of their paper application or review; a simple eligibility checker to check the current eligibility status of a medical card; a new on-line feedback and enquiry facility for the public to communicate directly with the PCRS.

As the other information sought by the Deputy is not provided by the Health Service Executive to my Department as a matter of routine, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.