Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will consider correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36347/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Under the Health Act 2008, higher income thresholds are used for persons aged 70 years and over applying for a medical card. The Health Service Executive (HSE) does not finalise assessments for medical card eligibility on the higher income thresholds until the applicant has reached his/her 70th birthday. The HSE has advised that in this case the medical card application was processed and approved on the date the person reached 70 years of age (4th October 2010) and the card issued very shortly thereafter.

The HSE has informed me that its Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) has processed 211,801 medical card applications over the last 18 months and currently meets the 15 working day turnaround target in respect of all complete applications.