I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together.
On foot of the report by the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility, the HSE established the Clinical Advisory Group and requested that it develop clinical oversight and guidance for the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. The Director General of the HSE, on accepting an interim recommendation of the Group, made a decision to award medical card eligibility to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer from 1 July 2015, with the card to be held for a period of five years.
The Clinical Advisory Group is continuing its work on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. It is envisaged that the final report will be submitted to the Director General of the HSE shortly. It will be a matter for the HSE to consider, when the CAG completes its work, the publication of its conclusions.