Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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93. To ask the Minister for Health if all discretionary medical card holders automatically have their cards renewed when the current card lapses; if not, the criteria that will be applied in processing applications; if income and-or medical conditions are factored into considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15835/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As part of the suite of actions that Minister Varadkar and I announced in November 2014, the medical card system is now operating in a more sensible and sensitive manner. The HSE is exercising greater discretion and this is evident in the increase in the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation. The number of discretionary medical cards has increased by 60% from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to over 83,000 at the end of March this year.

In May 2014, the HSE decided to suspend reviews of existing discretionary medical cards and that suspension is still in place.