Vol. 491 No. 3
288 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people over the age of 75 who do not have medical cards and the approximate cost of extending medical card cover to people in that category. [11905/98]
The number of persons aged 75 years and over who do not hold medical cards is 31,603 — based on the 1996 census. The additional cost of granting medical cards to all people aged 75 years and over is estimated at £7.2 million per annum. The Government has identified as a key priority a review of medical card eligibility for the elderly and for large families in An Action Programme for the Millennium, and my Deprtment has made the necessary arrangements to advance this review with the health boards.
