I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together.
The Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) was established by the Director General of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in January 2015 to provide clinical oversight and guidance to the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system.
This group has been working on the development of the assessment form which will seek to capture the additional financial costs associated with an illness and which will assist the HSE in assessing an individual for a discretionary medical card.
The CAG is continuing to work on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. As the group was established by reports to the HSE, I have forward the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.