asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card holders in the Dublin area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Medical Card Holders.
6.
The number of medical card holders in the Dublin Health Authority area on the 31st March, 1970 was 45,841. The number of persons covered by these cards, that is holders and dependants, was 102,612.
Could I ask the Minister how he accounts for the fact that on the statistics he himself was good enough to circulate to Members of the House only 15 per cent of the population of Dublin is covered by medical cards, whereas 40 per cent in the wealthy county of Limerick are covered by medical cards? If his Department has proper control—and it is always said in relation to central Government Departments that they should have uniformity through the country—how does this sort of thing happen?
I could conduct some kind of inquiry into the reasons for the differences in numbers. In some cases people who actually could have medical cards do not apply for them; in other cases standards of living are involved. The differences in standards applying, so far as I know, are not very great or noticeable as between one county and another although there are variations. Under the Health Act, 1970, there will be a national standard for medical card applications. This matter will come before the House in the form of a resolution. It would, therefore, be waste of time for me to investigate the matter further pending the introduction of that section of the Health Act, 1970.
I am grateful to the Minister. I might add that only eight per cent of the population of County Dublin have medical cards.
That would certainly be due to the standard of relative incomes.
It might also be due to different standards in administration.
The Deputy is not asking a question; he is making a statement.
I shall ask a question now. Is the same standard of administration carried out by all the local authorities?
That is an entirely different question.
I have already replied to the Deputy. There are not sufficient variations for me to say that there is any other general explanation for the low number of medical cards in Dublin city and county save that of an improved standard of living.
I hope so.