Joan Burton
Question:229 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the background and rationale to the decision to centralise the medical card application service to the primary care reimbursement service; the connection of this centralisation to the budget 2009 decision to means test all persons applying for a medical card aged 70 years and over which is enshrined in the Health Act 2008; the preparation undertaken and consideration given to the initiative prior to the announcement to centralise on 24 December 2008; the effect of the centralisation on persons over 70 years; the success of the centralisation; if problems have been encountered to date in 2010; the extent to which the medical card application process has been improved to be more efficient and faster; the extent to which it has deteriorated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6167/10]
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