Vol. 478 No. 4
77 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of pensioners over 66 and 75 who do not have a medical card; the estimated cost of giving these non-card holders access to a free chiropodist service two or three times annually; if he will consider giving such access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11440/97]
Limerick East): GMS statistics relate to those aged 65 and over. Based on these and provisional 1996 population estimates, the number of persons aged 65 years and over who are not eligible for a medical card is estimated to be 114,246 and for those aged 75 years and over 23,787.
Chiropody services are relevant to a number of different client groups, such as the elderly, persons with a mental handicap and persons with a physical disability. As funding is allocated on the basis of the overall programme for each client group it is not possible to identify separately the total expenditure on the chiropody service. Therefore, the data required to estimated the cost of providing the level of service requested is not available.
Under the 1970 Health Act, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants. It is open to all persons to apply to the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide services, such as chiropody services, for themselves or their dependants without hardship.I am satisfied that health boards give sympathetic consideration to such applications when the circumstances warrant it. Consequently, I have no plans to extend the arrangements currently in place.
