asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the delay experienced by applicants for medical cards to the Western Health Board; and that individuals holding medical cards from the county council are being refused by the Western Health Board.

I am not aware of undue delay being experienced by applicants generally for medical cards in the Western Health Board area. I understand that any delay which may occur in particular cases is usually due to the applicant failing to supply essential information required by the board.

As regards persons holding medical cards issued by the county council when it was the health authority, the position is that a general review of all existing medical cards was necessary prior to the introduction of the reorganised general medical service. It was the most thorough undertaken for a number of years and, as a result, a number of persons were found to be no longer within the standards adopted by the board for the issue of medical cards.

Is the Minister aware that many people who held medical cards when Galway County Council was the health authority have returned these cards and applied for new cards to the Western Health Board and have been waiting as long as two months for these cards and have not yet received any communication from the health board regarding their applications?

I understand the Western Health Board takes on average one month to process each application and this is slightly lower than the average in the case of other health boards.

Can the Minister indicate when these health cards were withdrawn?

That is a separate question.

The Minister touched on it and I should have the information.

The question deals with the delay.

The Minister touched on it. Where delay is concerned, does the Minister think two to three months the right period during which to wait for a medical card?

As I said, the average period is one month and that is slightly better than it is in other areas.

The information the Minister has got is not correct.

It certainly is not correct.