Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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440. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card appeal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47900/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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441. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to put a mechanism in place whereby persons who are going through the medical card review-appeals process will not be pressurised by the Health Service Executive or debt collection agencies acting on their behalf for payment of outstanding hospital debt when there is still a possibility they may be awarded their medical card; in the event of cards being awarded to persons, if he will ensure that these debts are removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47913/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Persons (and their dependants, if applicable), who are the subject of a medical card eligibility review assessment, regardless of the expiry date on the card, will continue to have their eligibility extended pending the outcome of the review assessment, provided they have returned the review form within the time specified, and are engaging with the HSE in enabling their review assessment to complete.

The medical card/GP visit card holder does not need to take any action other than to genuinely co-operate with the review process and communicate with the HSE on an ongoing basis throughout the process.

Those who appeal a decision on their medical card/GP visit card eligibility retain their original eligibility until an appeal decision is issued.

Eligibility can be confirmed by any Doctor/Pharmacist/Public Hospital, or by the Medical Card holder on-line at or through the GP practice systems.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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442. To ask the Minister for Health the progress in respect of an appeal for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47918/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.