asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards withdrawn by the Eastern Health Board during the past 12 months.
21.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards.
20.
asked the Minister for Health the number of new medical cards issued by the Eastern Health Board during the past 12 months.
I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
I am informed by the Eastern Health Board that, in the year ended on 31st March last, 31,177 cards were issued to new applicants and, during the same period, 29,822 cards were not renewed or were withdrawn.
Could the Minister indicate on what basis, in general, this staggering number of 29,000 medical cards was withdrawn? What were the general reasons?
They exceeded the guidelines set down by the CEOs. The Deputy will recognise that there has been an increase of 1,355 so there are more cards in that area than there were this time last year.
I would expect that, in the normal run of things, the number of medical cards being issued would have to increase. I am concerned about the 29,000 cards which have been withdrawn. Would the Minister agree that, in the main, the reason for the withdrawal of these cards was simply inflation?
I would not agree.
The Minister would have to agree if he were honest.
If the Deputy wants that type of language I can give it to him as well as he can give it to me.
The Minister knows the reason.
There is no need to engender heat.
Would the Minister agree that many of these cards which were withdrawn would subsequently have figured in the number reissued? It is my experience that when medical cards were withdrawn, on reinvestigation as a result of representations, they were reissued?
It is possible that that happened as it happens in every health board.
Would the Minister feel that the slight increase would not be in keeping with the present economic climate in the Eastern Health Board area?
I told the House recently that there would be a review this month.
The Minister said that 31,000 new cards were issued, not reissued.
I stated that 31,177 cards were issued to new applicants.
Deputy Power suggested to the Minister that of the 31,000 cards some of them might be reissues of cards which had been withdrawn. I suggest that does not comply with the Minister's answer that 31,000 cards were issued to new applicants.
It is possible that they were not all new. Some people may have made an application and been turned down, and may have been admitted on reinvestigation, or some whose cards were withdrawn may have been readmitted.
Therefore, the words "new applicants" could cover people whose cards had been withdrawn and who had reapplied.
That is possible, but the net effect is that there are more cards in the Eastern Health Board area than there were 12 months ago.
And many more unemployed.
Is the Minister aware that cards have been withdrawn from genuine cases and this has caused considerable hardship? It is very obvious that the procedures introduced in the Eastern Health Board are much more strict. They have caused considerable hardship to the people. Many of these cases should be reconsidered.
The Deputy is aware that it is the chief executive officer who determines eligibility for a medical card.
It is very obvious that the procedures have been changed.
I am not aware of any change.
Can the Minister say when the new guidelines will be issued? Would it be possible to postpone withdrawal of cards because this will involve a whole new process of application? It could cost the health board a considerable sum of money in having them reviewed.
The review is to take place at the end of the month.
In view of the staggering figure of 29,000 cards withdrawn, does the Minister now recognise that it would satisfy a greater need in the community to extend medical cards to these people rather than pursue his programme of free hospitalisation for everybody?
The Deputy is widening the debate. Question No. 22.
In the case of public expenditure the Minister should recognise that this would better serve the public need.
I am serving the public need by having more cards issued than there were last year.
I am sure the Minister would agree that the increase in the number of medical cards is due to the increase in the number of unemployed.
It is a factor.
Surely the Minister is aware that inflation is the cause of it. In the Eastern Health Board and the Western Health Board and in every health board cards are being withdrawn. There should be a stay on these withdrawals pending a substantial rise in the guidelines to keep pace with inflation.
I assume that there will be no withdrawal between now and the review of the guidelines.
It is going on all over the country.
I do not to know who directed it.
The Minister should have adopted our motion.
We gave him a way out.
22.
asked the Minister for Health why all farmers' sons who are working at home are being assessed on full farm labourers' wages when applying for medical cards.
Farmers' sons, applying for medical cards, are not automatically assessed as the question implies. All such applications are considered individually.
My information is to the contrary. My information is that in the South-Eastern Health Board all applications from farmers' sons who may be getting anything from £1 to £10 a week are automatically assessed at full farm labourers' wages and automatically thrown out.
My information is to the contrary. Each case is examined individually.
I can give the Minister a few glaring examples.
I will be glad to receive them.