Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10931/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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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.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his plans to centralise the processing of all medical card applications in Dublin; if all applications and appeals will be dealt with by the same section; his intentions in regard to the redeployment of staff who dealt with the application in each region; the arrangements he will put in place to accommodate public enquiries and representations from public representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10934/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive is moving ahead with its plans to centralise the processing of all medical cards and GP visit card applications and renewals to its Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) in Dublin. This project is well under way and almost 40% of medical card applications are now processed centrally by the PCRS. The issues in relation to the redeployment of staff are being progressed in accordance with the Croke Park Agreement.

Last year a new online Medical Card application service was launched (www.medicalcard.ie) which guarantees a 15 day turnaround for complete applications. This new facility was developed to enable people, anywhere in the country, to apply online for a medical card, as is the case with many other public services. More than 5,000 online applications are being received each month with more than 50% of these made outside of normal office hours. The new online medical card application is suitable for people who are likely to quality for a medical card on income grounds. On line assessments are immediate and for applicants who supply all evidence/documentation and are eligible on income grounds, medical card delivery is guaranteed within 15 days of receipt of the completed application pack. Applicants who are over the income limits (i.e. Discretionary Cases) are informed immediately and may apply to the HSE for assessment in the normal way, if they wish. Any person who has applied through the national office can now view the status of their medical card application or review online, using a unique reference number which is provided to each applicant immediately on application receipt. These online facilities are under continuous development with additional online services to be made available throughout 2011.

I am arranging to have all deputies and senators circulated with a list of contact names and telephone numbers in each Local Health Office, including the Central Office, to respond to queries and representations in relation to medical card/GP visit card applications. Local Health Offices will continue to assist the general public with their queries.

Issues in relation to the redeployment of staff are being progressed in accordance with the Croke Park Agreement.