asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons holding medical cards at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Card-Holders.
5.
The number of persons holding medical cards, and their dependants, was 904,457 on 31st March, 1969.
6.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of widows (a) with three children, (b) with four children, (c) with five children and (d) with six or more children who have been refused medical cards in each of the years from 1964 to date.
7.
asked the Minister for Health the total number of old age pensioners who have been refused medical cards in each of the years 1964 to date.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The statistics sought by the Deputy are not readily available and in some areas the original papers have been disposed of. Where the records are available, extensive research into all refusals of medical cards would be necessary in order to select the classes of persons specified in the questions.
All health authorities grant medical cards automatically, on application, to widows or aged persons with the full non-contributory pension. The great majority of authorities, including Dublin, do so even where a reduced non-contributory pension is involved.