Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) whose application to move from a family to an individual medical card was submitted within the requisite timeframe but which has not yet been approved due to backlogs in the newly-centralised processing system; if he considers it acceptable that a person should lose their entitlement to a medical card, even temporarily, solely because of delays in the processing system; if he will ensure this person's medical card is issued without delay; if he will institute a policy that no person will lose their entitlement in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34794/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has centralised the processing of all new medical card applications and renewals at the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) with effect from 1st July 2011. The executive has stated that completed medical card applications are processed within 15 working days. Delays occur where applications are submitted without the supporting documentation necessary to complete the processing of the application. Over 70% of applications received in the Central Office are complete.

The Deputy's particular query concerning an individual's medical card status has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.