Vol. 535 No. 1
279 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received a communication from the Irish Medical Organisation demanding the issue of a directive to all the health boards to cease offering application forms under the proposed free health care plan for the over 70s; and if so, the response he has given to this demand. [11368/01]
292 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to extend eligibility for medical cards to dependants of those over 70 years of age who will automatically qualify in July 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11523/01]
311 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which people over 70 years of age can avail of their new entitlement to the medical card. [11693/01]
353 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the issue of medical cards to persons over 70 years of age from July 2001, applications will be required from this age group or if cards will issue automatically; if applications are required, if he will modify the existing application form; if he will confirm that adult dependants of persons over 70 years of age will be included on these cards; if dependants of these persons over 70 years of age will also qualify and be included on these cards; and if negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation will be completed to enable the introduction of this scheme. [12131/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 292, 311 and 353 together.
I am not aware of any formal communication being received by my Department from the Irish Medical Organisation requesting that such a directive be issued to the health boards. As I have stated in several recent answers to questions relating to this area, all health boards are positively involved in currently examining their organisational processes to ensure their readiness to deal with the applications which will result from the budget provision. The issue of the dependants of persons aged 70 years and over is under active consideration at present. There are no plans to issue the cards automatically to qualifying persons. However, with the greater use of computerisation, for instance in the area of the drugs payment scheme, it may be possible for health boards to identify persons likely to benefit from this budget provision more easily in the future.
My Department intends to embark on a public information campaign over the next few weeks to promote fresh awareness of the budget initiative and to inform those eligible on how they can avail of it. It is considered that a campaign at this time will have the greatest impact and it will be carried out in conjunction with the health boards. Newspaper advertising features, press releases and an insertion on the departmental website are the means being considered to achieve maximum coverage. Further, the relevant section in my Department will continue to give the fullest information available to any person making an inquiry on this subject either now or in the future.
Agreement was reached with representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation earlier this month on a number of outstanding industrial relations issues, through the HSEA. As a result, they agreed to meet my Department, again through the HSEA, on the subject of the extension of the eligibility to all persons aged 70 years and over. I look forward to the positive outcome of these talks and the timely and efficient introduction of the scheme from its official start date, July 1 2001.
