The programme for Government commits to a humane approach to discretionary medical cards. It also commits to reviewing the way that people who are undergoing cancer treatment can get medical cards. At the moment, I am dealing with two cancer patients who are undergoing treatment and both are being obliged to fight to get or hold medical cards. Charles is an older man and has recently been refused, even though he is undergoing treatment. Nora, much younger, has already fought off breast cancer and is currently fighting throat cancer. Her card has been taken from her and she is having to fight for a new card. There should be some humane way of allocating medical cards to people who need them. If anybody should have one, surely Nora and Charles should. Has the review been conducted? If not, when will it be conducted? Worse still, if it has been conducted, is it the reason these two people are being refused?

On the same issue-----

Very briefly; no repetition.

I had the same issue with many constituents who are suffering from cancer. They are being asked to get a letter from their consultant stating that it is terminal. It is a terrible situation for any family to be asked to do this in order to get a medical card. Really I think the Minister needs to intervene and ensure that the practice ends.

There has been a huge increase in the number of discretionary medical cards. I made the figures available to the Oireachtas health committee. Certainly there is no review or change of policy in any way, shape or form that should alter that fact. A number of years ago we introduced a provision such that every child who has cancer automatically gets a medical card now. I will certainly take back the concerns of both Deputies in this regard. It should be a very compassionate approach. I ask the Deputies to forward me the details. I do not want to comment on individual cases on the floor of the Dáil.