asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards withdrawn in the last six months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards.
24.
Information received from Health boards indicates that 16,399 cards were withdrawn in the last six months. This figure should be seen in the context of a total number of medical cards extant on 30th June, 1973, of 472,051, covering 960,529 people and of a rise in the percentage of the population covered from 31.3 per cent on 30th April, 1973, to 32.3 per cent on 30th June, 1973.
Would the Minister not agree that in view of the general rise in wages and incomes in the country, due to inflation, it is time for a considerable raising of the income limits for medical cards because of the hardships caused to these 16,399 people and many others?
The Deputy is expanding the scope of the question.
I should like to ask the Minister why these 16,399 medical cards were withdrawn?
I have no idea why they were withdrawn.
The Minister should have this information.
Unless I was to ask the CEOs of the health boards this question I could not have the information. Some probably exceeded the limits and some probably died or went away. I tried to get the information as to the number of new cards issued so as to give a better overall picture. As I stated in the House before, I am concerned to see that the guidelines would be upped in order to make them run in line with the various increases that have been granted to workers under national wage agreements in the various six months periods. I believe that this will be reviewed by the CEOs in a month or two.
Am I to take it that the limits will be raised in a month or two?
Reviewed.
Surely it is a matter for the Minister to set the limits, and not for the CEOs, of the individual boards?
It is for the Minister to set the limits.
The House is expanding the scope of this Question. Deputy Power.
Will the Minister encourage the CEOs to raise the limits in a month or two?
The Chair is calling Deputy Paddy Power.
I should like to ask the Minister if he would see the withdrawal of about 16,000 medical cards as an indication that the much-publicised aim of his party to eliminate poverty is now that much nearer achievement?
As I said to Deputy O'Malley, I tried to get the extra information. There is a possibility that more than 16,000 new cards may have been issued at the same time, but frankly I do not know that that is so. There is no action that I have taken or that any official in my Department has taken to take cards from people for no apparent reason.
The Chair is calling Question No. 25.
I wish to ask one more supplementary question.
The Chair must be obeyed in matters of this kind.
Has there been a practice in recent months of withdrawing a card held by the head of a household covering himself, his wife and all his children, and re-issuing a card for perhaps one child who happens to be ill, so that the number of people who have lost cover by medical card over the past few months is more than the 16,000 actually mentioned?
The Deputy is making certain allegations. Will he give me examples of these?
It has been represented to me by constituents and by Deputies in other areas that this is happening.
If it is happening perhaps the Deputy can give me details. I do not know whether the Deputy is a member of the Mid-Western Health Board. Having been a Minister so recently he may not be a member of such board. Perhaps he would ask some of his colleagues to get the CEOs to look into these allegations which he has made.
Question No. 25.
A large number of cards were withdrawn from people in the Western Health Board region by you.
(Interruptions.)