Medical Cards.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 March 2009

Thursday, 12 March 2009

Questions (117)

Dan Neville

Question:

116 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of medical cards applied for in January and February of 2007, 2008 and 2009. [10617/09]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

Details of the number of medical card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures are provided on a net basis, showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The information sought by the Deputy is not provided by the HSE to my Department as a matter of routine. My Department has therefore requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.