Written Answers - Medical Cards.

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Dáil Eireann Debate
Vol. 670 No. 4

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  119.  Deputy Bernard J. Durkan  Information on Bernard Durkan  Zoom on Bernard Durkan   asked the Minister for Health and Children  Information on Mary Harney  Zoom on Mary Harney   the number of those over 70 years who on the basis of current calculations are expected to lose their eligibility for a full medical card; the basis on which this calculation has been reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45561/08]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Information on Mary Harney  Zoom on Mary Harney  Following the Government decision to withdraw automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over and to raise the means assessment threshold for persons in that age cohort, it is estimated that approximately 5% (20,000) of the current medical card holders aged 70 and over will no longer qualify for a medical card.

The estimated 5% figure of persons aged 70 and over, who will lose automatic entitlement to a medical card, was based on the best available information from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the EU wide survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), which is conducted by the CSO to obtain information on the income and living conditions of different types of households. These EU-SILC tables have been made available to Opposition parties.

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