The Government has been urged in next month's Budget to give medical cards to everyone under the age of 18. The appeal came yesterday from the Irish Nurses' Organisation which also wants the eligibility criteria for medical cards for all others significantly increased.
In addition it wants money set aside in the Budget for 500 extra acute hospital beds and an equal number of rehabilitation or extended care beds to end the daily spectre of large numbers of patients on trolleys in A&E departments.
In its pre-Budget submission, the INO also wants work to start on constructing a large acute hospital in west Dublin.
The submission calls for the provision of affordable childcare by giving tax credits to those who must pay for it. It seeks increases in the children's allowance to €150 a month for the first two children and €185 a month for third and subsequent children, and an increase in the old-age pension.
A non-means-tested carers allowance should also be introduced, it says.
Its main focus, however, is its members and it has called for measures to improve their conditions and to encourage them to remain here in nursing posts. It says there has been "mass emigration" of Irish-trained nurses because Ireland does not value them.
The INO's general secretary, Mr Liam Doran, called for a number of steps to be taken to reverse this trend including an independent review of pay anomalies, a 35-hour week, a Dublin living allowance and the introduction of a special retention allowance which would be paid annually to nurses who remained in the public sector.
It also wants legislation on underage drinking, drink-driving, drug-trafficking, underage smoking and speeding to be properly enforced.