Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Paul Bradford

Question:

279 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 26 February 2002, he will provide documentary evidence and papers relating to the investigation which his Department claims that the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Central Appeals Office of that authority has carried out; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person has received no evidence of any such investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7719/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Written confirmation, copies of which I will forward separately to the Deputy, from the Eastern Regional Health Authority Central Appeals Office reveals that the client in this case was advised of the outcome of the investigation on 22 October 2001. As stated in two previous answers, she was advised of her right of appeal of the decision to the ombudsman, and this she chose to do. The most recent correspondence from the authority suggests that since the matter is with the ombudsman that body determines it inappropriate to continue to deal with the matter, however, I have passed this current question to the authority for their attention.

The client has since returned her medical card to my Department, and this will now be returned to the issuing authority, the East Coast Area Health Board.