310 Deputy George Lee asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties that persons, many of whom are elderly, are having in contacting to the Health Service Executive medical card office in Finglas, Dublin 11; if her further attention has been drawn to the backlog and waiting times in this office and that different staff members have given contradictory status updates to persons and to this Deputy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3599/10]

I fully support the Health Service Executive's decision to centralise the processing of all medical card applications and reviews. I wrote to all Oireachtas members on 17th January 2010 outlining a range of measures being employed by the Executive to address issues arising from this initiative and I also referred to the various enhancements that this process will facilitate upon completion.

The other issues raised by the Deputy are service matters. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address these matters and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.