Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

224 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of the population covered under the medical card scheme; the percentage for each of the past five years; the number covered by medical cards in each of the age groups up to four years, five to 15 years, 16 to 44 years, 45 to 64 year and 65 and over for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20420/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The relevant extracts from the General Medical Services (Payments) Board statistical reports detailing the information requested by the Deputy are outlined in the following table.

Table 9 – G.M.S.: Number of Eligible Persons

Health Board	Number of persons (including dependants) and % of population* eligible in	December 1997			December 1996
	No.	%	No.	%
Eastern
Dublin	270,447	25.56	282,872	26.77
Wicklow	34,093	33.20	35,068	34.24
Kildare	33,485	24.81	35,004	25.95
Total	338,025	26.08	352,944	27.28
Midland
Longford	12,880	42.70	12,957	42.99
Westmeath	21,889	34.57	22,338	35.32
Offaly	22,746	38.48	23,634	40.00
Laois	21,005	39.67	21,518	40.76
Total	78,520	38.20	80,447	39.19
Mid-Western
Clare	30,827	32.79	30,962	32.97
Limerick	51,253	31.05	55,177	33.44
Tipperary N.R.	19,555	33.70	20,822	35.93
Total	101,635	32.05	106,961	33.75
Health Board	Number of persons (including dependants) and % of population* eligible in	December 1997			December 1996
	No.	%	No.	%
North-Eastern
Cavan	21,144	40.93	22,030	42.67
Louth	40,696	44.16	39,821	43.21
Meath	37,236	33.93	38,645	33.33
Monaghan	21,993	42.86	22,497	43.88
Total	121,069	39.71	122,993	40.40
North-Western
Donegal	67,253	51.74	69,524	53.71
Leitrim	12,246	46.50	12,430	47.24
Sligo	19,805	35.48	20,615	37.05
Total	99,304	46.81	102,569	48.52
South-Eastern
Carlow	17,026	40.91	17,061	41.07
Kilkenny	21,967	36.11	22,159	36.49
Tipperary S.R.	27,428	34.02	27,309	33.94
Waterford	37,787	36.31	39,508	37.98
Wexford	40,052	38.37	40,799	39.11
Total	144,260	36.85	146,836	37.55
Southern
Cork	137,679	32.74	139,370	33.16
Kerry	45,395	35.99	46,993	37.41
Total	183,074	33.49	186,363	34.12
Western
Galway	73,952	39.16	73,724	39.09
Mayo	56,384	50.56	55,910	50.19
Roscommon	23,629	45.46	23,638	45.56
Total	153,965	43.70	153,272	43.56
National	1,219,852	33.64	1,252,385	34.54

Note:(i)*The population figures for each county are taken from the Census of Population 1996. The national figure was 3,626,087.

(ii)Average number of eligible persons in 1997 was 1,243,017 on 751,068 Medical Cards. (Average number of persons on a Medical Card was 1.65.)

Table 9.1 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons by Gender within Age Groups

Health Board	Age Classification as at December 1998	Under 5 Years				5-15 Years				16-44 Years				45-64 Years				65 Years and Over				Total
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Eastern	12,943	12,420	25,363	31,879	30,738	62,617	41,774	61,081	102,855	27,939	34,118	62,057	27,914	53,183	81,097	142,449	191,540	333,989
Midland	2,531	2,420	4,951	7,221	7,012	14,233	11,204	13,816	25,020	6,712	7,611	14,323	7,465	11,148	18,613	35,133	42,007	77,140
Mid-Western	3,012	2,987	5,999	8,784	8,253	17,037	13,149	16,156	29,305	9,484	10,384	19,868	10,872	16,740	27,612	45,301	54,520	99,821
North-Eastern	3,661	3,486	7,147	10,896	10,568	21,464	19,489	22,848	42,337	10,539	11,589	22,128	11,020	16,151	27,171	55,605	64,642	120,247
North-Western	2,732	2,484	5,216	9,061	8,491	17,552	13,325	15,026	28,351	10,066	10,031	20,097	10,273	13,483	23,756	45,457	49,515	94,972
South-Eastern	4,446	4,104	8,550	12,655	12,123	24,778	19,365	24,698	44,063	13,323	14,530	27,853	13,329	19,761	33,090	63,118	75,216	138,334
Southern	5,022	4,921	9,943	14,387	13,823	28,210	23,608	29,840	53,448	16,308	18,520	34,828	18,497	29,418	47,915	77,822	96,522	174,344
Western	3,925	3,733	7,658	12,876	12,154	25,030	19,949	23,534	43,483	14,447	14,661	29,108	16,638	22,790	39,428	67,835	76,872	144,707
National	38,272	36,555	74,827	107,759	103,162	210,921	161,863	206,999	368,862	108,818	121,444	230,262	116,008	182,674	298,682	532,720	650,834	1,183,554
% of Eligible
Persons	3.2%	3.1%	6.3%	9.1%	8.7%	17.8%	13.7%	17.5%	31.2%	9.2%	10.3%	19.5%	9.8%	15.4%	25.2%	45.0%	55.0%	100.0%

Table 9 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons

Health Board	Number of persons (including dependants) and % of population* eligible in	December 1998			December 1997
	No.	%	No.	%
Eastern
Dublin	266,536	25.19	270,447	25.56
Wicklow	33,840	25.07	34,093	33.20
Kildare	33,613	32.73	33,485	24.81
Total	333,989	25.77	338,025	26.08
Midland
Longford	12,889	42.73	12,880	42.70
Westmeath	21,325	33.68	21,889	34.57
Offaly	22,559	38.16	22,746	38.48
Laois	20,367	38.47	21,005	39.67
Total	77,140	37.53	78,520	38.20
Mid-Western
Clare	29,280	31.15	30,827	32.79
Limerick	51,339	31.11	51,253	31.05
Tipperary N.R.	19,202	33.09	19,555	33.70
Total	99,821	31.48	101,635	32.05
North-Eastern
Cavan	21,226	41.08	21,144	40.93
Louth	40,780	44.25	40,696	44.16
Meath	36,431	33.20	37,236	33.93
Monaghan	21,810	42.50	21,993	42.86
Total	120,247	39.44	121,069	39.71
North-Western
Donegal	63,504	48.85	67,253	51.74
Leitrim	11,914	45.24	12,246	46.50
Sligo	19,554	35.03	19,805	35.48
Total	94,972	44.77	99,304	46.81
South-Eastern
Carlow	16,633	39.97	17,026	40.91
Kilkenny	20,864	34.30	21,967	36.11
Tipperary S.R.	26,955	33.44	27,428	34.02
Waterford	35,323	33.94	37,787	36.31
Wexford	38,559	36.94	40,052	38.37
Total	138,334	35.33	144,260	36.85
Southern
Cork	131,304	31.22	137,679	32.74
Kerry	43,040	34.12	45,395	35.99
Total	174,344	31.89	183,074	33.49
Western
Galway	69,578	36.84	73,952	39.16
Mayo	52,797	47.34	56,384	50.56
Roscommon	22,332	42.97	23,629	45.46
Total	144,707	41.07	153,965	43.70
National	1,183,554	31.95	1,219,852	32.93

Note:(i)*The population figures for each county are taken from the Census of Population 1996. The Official C.S.O. estimate of population as at 31 December 1998 is 3,704,900.

(ii)Average number of eligible persons in 1998 was 1,206,388 on 731,144 Medical Cards. (Average number of persons on a Medical Card was 1.65.)

Table 9.1 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons by Gender within Age Groups

Health Board	Age Classification as at December 1997	Under 5 Years				5-15 Years				16-44 Years				45-64 Years				65 Years and Over				Total
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Eastern	14,325	13,618	27,943	31,906	30,630	62,536	43,948	63,051	106,999	27,823	34,235	62,058	26,716	51,773	78,489	144,718	193,307	338,025
Midland	2,812	2,708	5,520	7,430	7,134	14,564	11,684	14,017	25,701	6,696	7,654	14,350	7,443	10,942	18,385	36,065	42,455	78,520
Mid-Western	3,459	3,364	6,823	9,088	8,599	17,687	13,531	16,321	29,852	9,360	10,326	19,686	10,856	16,731	27,587	46,294	55,341	101,635
North-Eastern	4,209	3,977	8,186	11,333	11,106	22,439	18,879	22,131	41,010	10,395	11,722	22,117	11,024	16,293	27,317	55,840	65,229	121,069
North-Western	3,386	3,067	6,453	9,963	9,428	19,391	13,925	15,576	29,501	10,056	9,961	20,017	10,243	13,699	23,942	47,573	51,731	99,304
South-Eastern	5,249	4,835	10,084	13,399	12,973	26,372	21,387	26,383	47,770	13,359	14,642	28,001	12,878	19,155	32,033	66,272	77,988	144,260
Southern	5,979	5,882	11,861	15,415	14,759	30,174	26,146	31,841	57,987	16,452	18,728	35,180	18,481	29,391	47,872	82,473	100,601	183,074
Western	4,811	4,655	9,466	14,061	13,261	27,322	22,645	25,953	48,598	14,789	14,889	29,678	16,418	22,483	38,901	72,724	81,241	153,965
National	44,230	42,106	86,336	112,595	107,890	220,485	172,145	215,273	387,418	108,930	122,157	231,087	114,059	180,467	294,526	551,959	667,893	1,219,852
% of Eligible
Persons	3.6%	3.5%	7.1%	9.2%	8.8%	18.1%	14.1%	17.6%	31.8%	8.9%	10.0%	18.9%	9.4%	14.8%	24.1%	45.2%	54.8%	100.0%

Table 9 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons

Health Board	Number of persons (including dependants) and % of population* eligible in	December 1996			December 1995
	No.	%	No.	%
Eastern
Dublin	282,872	26.77	300,136	29.27
Wicklow	35,068	34.24	35,723	36.73
Kildare	35,004	25.95	36,385	29.66
Total	352,944	27.28	372,244	29.89
Midland
Longford	12,957	42.99	13,118	43.30
Westmeath	22,338	35.32	22,583	36.49
Offaly	23,634	40.00	23,994	41.02
Laois	21,518	40.76	21,691	41.46
Total	80,447	39.19	81,386	40.09
Mid-Western
Clare	30,962	32.97	31,949	35.14
Limerick	55,177	33.44	55,027	33.98
Tipperary N.R.	20,822	35.93	21,180	36.61
Total	106,961	33.75	108,156	34.81
North-Eastern
Cavan	22,030	42.67	22,621	42.85
Louth	39,821	43.21	39,465	43.50
Meath	38,645	33.33	41,101	39.01
Monaghan	22,497	43.88	22,905	44.66
Total	122,993	40.40	126,092	42.01
North-Western
Donegal	69,524	53.71	69,768	54.46
Leitrim	12,430	47.24	12,361	48.86
Sligo	20,615	37.05	20,712	37.83
Total	102,569	48.52	102,841	49.40
South-Eastern
Carlow	17,061	41.07	17,058	41.66
Kilkenny	22,159	36.49	22,153	37.09
Tipperary S.R.	27,309	33.94	28,466	35.52
Waterford	39,508	37.98	38,693	38.58
Wexford	40,799	39.11	41,164	40.33
Total	146,836	37.55	147,534	38.50
Southern
Cork	139,370	33.16	138,114	33.66
Kerry	46,993	37.41	47,620	39.07
Total	186,363	34.12	185,734	34.90
Western
Galway	73,724	39.09	73,474	40.74
Mayo	55,910	50.19	56,138	50.71
Roscommon	23,638	45.56	23,456	45.20
Total	153,272	43.56	153,068	44.63
National	1,252,385	34.59	1,277,055	35.65

Note:(i)*The population figures for each county are taken from the Census of Population 1996. The Official CSO estimate of population at 31 December 1996 is 3,621,035. (1995 – 3,582,000)

(ii)Average number of eligible persons in 1996 was 1,263,646 on 748,809 Medical Cards. (Average number of persons on a Medical Card was 1.69.)

Table 9.1 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons by Gender within Age Groups

Health Board	Age Classification as at December 1996	Under 5 Years				5-15 Years				16-44 Years				45-64 Years				65 Years and Over				Total
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Eastern	13,893	12,980	26,873	34,898	33,315	68,213	48,254	66,784	115,038	28,205	34,507	62,712	27,254	52,854	80,108	152,504	200,440	352,944
Midland	2,801	2,674	5,475	7,989	7,692	15,681	12,169	14,318	26,487	6,742	7,666	14,408	7,456	10,940	18,396	37,157	43,290	80,447
Mid-Western	3,381	3,320	6,701	9,958	9,469	19,427	15,231	17,658	32,889	9,628	10,436	20,064	10,980	16,900	27,880	49,178	57,783	106,961
North-Eastern	3,836	3,667	7,503	11,968	11,673	23,641	19,040	22,077	41,117	10,275	11,701	21,976	11,594	17,162	28,756	56,713	66,280	122,993
North-Western	3,138	2,882	6,020	10,435	9,961	20,396	15,121	16,209	31,330	10,022	9,877	19,899	10,767	14,157	24,924	49,483	53,086	102,569
South-Eastern	4,866	4,571	9,437	14,031	13,579	27,610	22,525	26,726	49,251	13,293	14,513	27,806	13,161	19,571	32,732	67,876	78,960	146,836
Southern	5,808	5,579	11,387	16,143	15,562	31,705	27,319	32,322	59,641	16,385	18,425	34,810	18,947	29,873	48,820	84,602	101,761	186,363
Western	4,727	4,656	9,383	14,218	13,399	27,617	22,771	25,505	48,276	14,517	14,537	29,054	16,394	22,548	38,942	72,627	80,645	153,272
National	42,450	40,329	82,779	119,640	114,650	234,290	182,430	221,599	404,029	109,067	121,662	230,729	116,553	184,005	300,558	570,140	682,245	1,252,385
% of Eligible
Persons	3.4%	3.2%	6.6%	9.6%	9.2%	18.7%	14.6%	17.7%	32.3%	8.7%	9.7%	18.4%	9.3%	14.7%	24.0%	45.5%	54.5%	100.0%

Table 9 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons

Health Board	Number of persons (including dependants) and % of population* eligible in	December 1995			December 1994
	No.	%	No.	%
Eastern
Dublin	300,136	29.27	299,157	29.18
Wicklow	35,723	36.73	35,576	36.58
Kildare	36,385	29.66	36,001	29.35
Total	372,244	29.89	370,734	29.77
Midland
Longford	13,118	43.30	13,360	44.10
Westmeath	22,583	36.49	22,499	36.36
Offaly	23,994	41.02	24,694	42.22
Laois	21,691	41.46	21,833	41.73
Total	81,386	40.09	82,386	40.59
Mid-Western
Clare	31,949	35.14	31,795	34.97
Limerick	55,027	33.98	55,922	34.53
Tipperary N.R.	21,180	36.61	21,215	36.67
Total	108,156	34.81	108,932	35.06
North-Eastern
Cavan	22,621	42.85	23,446	44.41
Louth	39,465	43.50	39,940	44.02
Meath	41,101	39.01	42,172	40.02
Monaghan	22,905	44.66	23,353	45.53
Total	126.092	42.01	128,911	42.94
North-Western
Donegal	69,768	54.46	70,727	55.21
Leitrim	12,361	48.86	12,692	50.16
Sligo	20,712	37.83	21,328	38.95
Total	102,841	49.40	104,747	50.32
South-Eastern
Carlow	17,058	41.66	17,167	41.93
Kilkenny	22,153	37.09	22,536	37.73
Tipperary S.R.	28,466	35.52	29,214	36.45
Waterford	38,693	38.58	39,021	38.91
Wexford	41,164	40.33	41,784	40.94
Total	147,534	38.50	149,722	39.07
Southern
Cork	138,114	33.66	138,126	33.66
Kerry	47,620	39.07	47,442	38.92
Total	185,734	34.90	185,568	34.86
Western
Galway	73,474	40.74	74,643	41.38
Mayo	56,138	50.71	57,262	41.72
Roscommon	23,456	45.20	23,908	46.07
Total	153,068	44.63	155,813	45.43
National	1,277,055	35.65	1,286,813	36.04

Note:(i)*The population figures for each county are taken from the Census of Population 1991. The Official C.S.O. estimate of population at 31st December 1995 is 3,582,000. (1994 – 3,571,000).

(ii)Average number of eligible persons in 1995 was 1,283,916 on 759,714 Medical Cards. (Average number of persons on a Medical Card was 1.69.)

Table 9.1 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons by Gender within Age Groups

Health Board	Age Classification as at December 1995	Under 5 Years				5-15 Years				16-44 Years				45-64 Years				65 Years and Over				Total
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Eastern	14,588	13,823	28,411	38,465	36,516	74,981	54,202	72,005	126,207	28,842	35,147	63,989	26,763	51,893	78,656	162,860	209,384	372,244
Midland	2,734	2,685	5,419	8,356	7,852	16,208	12,440	14,357	26,797	6,683	7,629	14,312	7,595	11,055	18,650	37,808	43,578	81,386
Mid-Western	3,340	3,281	6,621	10,097	9,680	19,777	15,444	17,528	32,972	9,339	10,267	19,606	11,559	17,621	29,180	49,779	58,377	108,156
North-Eastern	4,063	3,773	7,836	12,723	12,277	25,000	20,093	22,781	42,874	10,349	11,796	22,145	11,399	16,838	28,237	56,627	67,456	126,092
North-Western	3,146	2,875	6,021	10,438	10,035	20,473	15,546	16,465	32,011	9,841	9,682	19,523	10,745	14,068	24,813	49,716	53,125	102,841
South-Eastern	4,863	4,590	9,453	14,811	14,228	29,039	22,678	26,467	49,145	12,933	14,176	27,109	13,121	19,667	32,788	68,406	79,128	147,534
Southern	5,585	5,387	10,972	16,686	16,066	32,752	27,684	31,945	59,629	15,986	18,057	34,043	18,761	29,577	48,338	84,702	101,032	185,734
Western	4,373	4,406	8,779	14,847	14,188	29,035	22,168	24,348	46,516	14,284	14,322	28,606	16,997	23,135	40,132	72,669	80,399	153,068
National	42,692	40,820	83,512	126,423	120,842	247,265	190,255	255,896	416,151	108,257	121,076	229,333	116,940	183,854	300,794	584,567	692,488	1,277,055
% of Eligible
Persons	3.3%	3.2%	6.5%	9.9%	9.5%	19.4%	14.9%	17.7%	32.6%	8.5%	9.5%	18.0%	9.2%	14.4%	23.6%	45.8%	54.2%	100.0%

Table 9 – G.M.S.: Number of Eligible Persons

Health Board	Number of persons (including dependants) and % of population* eligible in	December 1994			December 1993
	No.	%	No.	%
Eastern
Dublin	299,157	29.18	298,763	29.16
Wicklow	35,576	36.58	33,728	34.67
Kildare	36,001	29.35	34,697	28.32
Total	370,734	29.77	367,188	29.51
Midland
Longford	13,360	44.10	15,119	49.91
Westmeath	22,499	36.36	22,963	37.11
Offaly	24,694	42.22	23,179	39.66
Laois	21,833	41.73	21,642	41.36
Total	82,386	40.59	82,903	40.85
Mid-Western
Clare	31,795	34.97	32,769	36.08
Limerick	55,922	34.53	56,465	34.89
Tipperary N.R.	21,215	36.67	21,375	36.96
Total	108,932	35.06	110,609	35.62
North-Eastern
Cavan	23,446	44.41	23,192	43.96
Louth	39,940	44.02	37,371	41.20
Meath	42,172	40.02	40,224	38.11
Monaghan	23,353	45.53	23,105	45.07
Total	128,911	42.94	123,892	41.26
North-Western
Donegal	70,727	55.21	69,916	54.62
Leitrim	12,692	50.16	12,467	49.28
Sligo	21,328	38.95	21,081	38.51
Total	104,747	50.32	103,464	49.74
South-Eastern
Carlow	17,167	41.93	17,186	41.98
Kilkenny	22,536	37.73	22,908	38.35
Tipperary S.R.	29,214	36.45	29,943	37.36
Waterford	39,021	38.91	35,599	38.48
Wexford	41,784	40.94	41,120	40.29
Total	149,722	39.07	149,756	39.08
Southern
Cork	138,126	33.66	134,456	32.81
Kerry	47,442	38.92	47,078	38.68
Total	185,568	34.86	181,534	34.15
Western
Galway	74,643	41.38	74,563	41.35
Mayo	57,262	41.72	56,660	51.19
Roscommon	23,908	46.07	24,052	46.36
Total	155,813	45.43	155,275	45.29
National	1,286,813	36.04	1,274,621	37.77

Note:(i)*The population figures for each county are taken from the Census of Population 1991. The Official C.S.O. estimate of population at 31st December 1994 is 3,571,000 (1993-3,563,300).

(ii)Average number of eligible persons in 1994 was 1,282,155 on 749,798 Medical Cards. (Average number of persons on a Medical Card was 1.71.)

Table 9.1 – GMS: Number of Eligible Persons by Gender within Age Groups

Health Board	Age Classification as at December 1994	Under 5 Years				5-15 Years				16-44 Years				45-64 Years				65 Years and Over				Total
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Eastern	15,516	14,781	30,297	38,659	36,783	75,442	55,680	72,308	127,988	27,892	34,397	62,289	25,345	49,373	74,718	163,092	207,642	370,734
Midland	2,929	2,812	5,741	8,621	8,064	16,685	12,740	14,421	27,161	6,599	7,584	14,183	7,646	10,970	18,616	38,535	43,851	82,386
Mid-Western	3,574	3,508	7,082	10,245	9,794	20,039	15,838	17,628	33,466	9,133	10,125	19,258	11,516	17,571	29,087	50,306	58,626	108,932
North-Eastern	4,388	4,127	8,515	13,195	12,773	25,968	21,197	23,745	44,942	10,276	11,747	22,023	11,089	16,374	27,463	60,145	68,766	128,911
North-Western	3,307	3,027	6,334	10,525	10,173	20,698	16,136	16,745	32,881	9,780	9,633	19,413	11,058	14,363	25,421	50,806	53,941	104,747
South-Eastern	5,252	4,971	10,223	14,949	14,304	29,253	23,726	27,082	50,808	12,597	14,036	26,633	13,198	19,607	32,805	69,722	80,000	149,722
Southern	5,757	5,568	11,325	17,123	16,314	33,437	27,573	31,472	59,045	15,622	17,670	33,292	18,787	29,682	48,469	84,862	100,706	185,568
Western	4,528	4,506	9,034	15,382	14,560	29,942	22,794	24,688	47,482	14,188	14,422	28,610	17,483	23,262	40,745	74,375	81,438	155,813
National	45,251	43,300	88,551	128,699	122,765	251,464	195,684	228,089	423,773	106,087	119,614	225,701	116,122	181,202	297,324	591,843	694,970	1,286,813
% of Eligible
Persons	3.5%	3.4%	6.9%	10.0%	9.5%	19.5%	15.2%	17.7%	32.9%	8.2%	9.3%	17.5%	9.0%	14.1%	23.1%	46.0%	54.0%	100.0%