Medical Cards.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2005

Tuesday, 22 February 2005

Questions (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

78 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons covered by a medical card at each of the dates 1 January 1997, 1 June 2002, 30 September 2004, 31 January 2005; and for the most recent date available. [5636/05]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

87 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in each county covered by a medical card on 1 January 1997, 1 June 2002, 30 September 2004 and 31 January 2005; and the number at the latest date for which figures are available. [5664/05]

Denis Naughten

Question:

106 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in County Roscommon covered by a medical card on 1 January 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5698/05]

Denis Naughten

Question:

107 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in County Leitrim covered by a medical card on 1 January 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5699/05]

Denis Naughten

Question:

108 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in County Longford covered by a medical card on 1 January 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5700/05]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 87 and 106 to 108, inclusive, together.

The details requested by the Deputies are set out in the following table:

County	January 97	June 02	January 03	January 04	September 04	January 05	February 05
Dublin	282,872	291,310	277,378	271,837	273,582	272,855	271,892
Kildare	35,004	39,505	37,973	36,967	37,391	36,934	36,547
Wicklow	35,068	30,211	28,918	27,982	27,804	27,502	27,411
Laois	21,518	18,375	17,926	17,318	17,311	17,095	17,327
Longford	12,957	12,647	12,499	12,263	12,363	12,386	12,532
Offaly	23,634	19,746	19,303	18,974	19,137	19,101	19,359
Westmeath	22,337	20,887	20,929	20,675	21,068	21,082	21,456
Clare	30,962	31,133	29,620	30,438	30,887	30,672	30,623
Limerick	55,177	52,027	50,370	49,212	49,657	49,629	49,227
Tipperary N	20,822	20,098	19,105	19,135	19,061	18,918	18,921
Cavan	22,030	19,216	19,124	18,768	18,400	18,564	18,463
Louth	39,821	39,075	37,486	35,942	34,746	34,493	34,437
Meath	38,645	32,008	30,550	31,517	30,440	29,867	29,592
Monaghan	22,497	17,993	17,285	16,632	16,462	16,308	16,249
Donegal	69,524	66,787	65,734	66,852	67,618	67,188	67,295
Leitrim	12,430	11,526	11,476	11,264	11,344	11,163	11,186
Sligo	20,615	20,270	19,714	19,629	19,483	19,442	19,222
Carlow	17,061	16,365	16,008	15,602	15,455	15,190	15,242
Kilkenny	22,159	20,567	20,152	19,756	19,708	19,473	19,534
Tipperary S	27,309	29,064	28,607	28,720	28,459	28,336	28,304
Waterford	39,508	35,775	34,955	34,716	34,785	34,925	34,696
Wexford	40,799	39,693	38,878	39,318	39,276	38,986	38,929
Cork	139,370	135,619	133,236	131,669	131,273	130,863	130,869
Kerry	46,993	44,504	43,189	42,005	41,428	40,915	40,855
Galway	73,724	70,884	68,293	66,704	66,432	65,684	65,561
Mayo	55,910	51,052	49,660	48,859	47,635	47,493	47,281
Roscommon	23,638	20,759	20,376	20,154	19,901	20,019	19,612
Total	1,252,384	1,207,096	1,168,745	1,152,908	1,151,106	1,145,083	1,142,618

John McGuinness

Question:

79 Mr. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a decision taken in December 2004 not to issue a medical card to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be reviewed; if consideration will be given to this person's serious medical condition and need for ongoing treatment and daily medication; and if a decision in this case will be expedited. [5643/05]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the assessment of applications for medical cards. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer of the executive's south eastern area to investigate the matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.