asked the Minister for Health if he will state the number of blue cards withdrawn by the Dublin Board of Assistance in the last year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Withdrawal of Blue Cards in Dublin.
1.
Mr. Ryan
So that there may be no misunderstanding, it is necessary for me to explain the system adopted by the Dublin Board of Assistance for revising its medical register.
Every six months or so, the Board issues an advertisement indicating that cards bearing certain numbers (which are those of cards issued nine to fifteen months previously) will cease to be current after a date about three months ahead and inviting holders of such cards to apply for fresh cards if they wish to do so. All such applications are decided on their merits in the light of all the current circumstances of the applicant. The "lapsed" cards cannot, therefore, be regarded as withdrawn, as, in all appropriate cases in which application is made, they are replaced by new cards.
In addition to the automatic lapsing of cards by the effluxion of time, cards are withdrawn from time to time where evidence becomes available to the Board that the holder has ceased to be, or never was, entitled to have a card.
The records of the Board are not maintained in such a form that it would be possible, without a great deal of detailed examination, to supply statistics of the number of instances in which lapsed cards were not replaced after application or in which cards were withdrawn. The number of instances in which cards were withdrawn is, however, stated to be small.
The following information bearing on the general question may be of interest to the Deputy:
The number of cards declared lapsed by the effluxion of time during the year 1959 was 24,757. Many of the persons who held such cards did not apply for new cards. Some, for instance, had died. In other cases, the circumstances of the holders of cards presumably improved. It is not possible to say how many applied for renewal of their cards but the total of the applications made for cards, including renewals, in the year was 32,127. Of these applications, 23,374 were granted.
2.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the considerable hardship which has been caused to many families in Dublin by reason of the withdrawal by the Dublin Board of Assistance of blue cards for which those families were formerly considered eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed that the number of medical cards withdrawn by the Dublin Board of Assistance is inconsiderable; and, knowing the humane way in which the Board conducts its business, I refuse to consider the implication in the Deputy's question that it would inflict hardship in any case by deliberately withdrawing the medical card of any person whose financial, economic and other circumstances would entitle him to hold a card.
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister not aware that there have been a number of cases in the past year in which the circumstances of the holders of cards have not changed, except that the number of children in their families has increased, and despite that their cards have been withdrawn?
I am not aware of that. If the Deputy will give me particulars I shall ascertain the facts, which are not always disclosed to the Deputy.