Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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355. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the increasing delays in processing medical card applications especially if additional information is requested; the efforts being made to reduce the processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29653/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Medical cards and GP visit cards are processed by the National Medical Card Unit (NMCU) in the HSE. I am aware that the processing times for medical cards increased in recent months. The HSE has informed my Department that this is primarily due to a reduction in the number of processing staff within the NMCU at present.

Processing times for applications/reviews can also be affected where supporting documentation required is not supplied or is incomplete. In such circumstances the HSE will correspond with applicants specifying the additional information required to progress the assessment of their application.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly on the measures being taken to address the current processing times.

The HSE provides weekly statistics on turnaround times on its website .