Séamus Hughes
Ceist:70 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the number of people over 70 years of age; the percentage of this number in receipt of a medical card; and the comparative figure for persons aged 75 to 85 years. [18652/95]
Written Answers. - Health Care of Elderly.
, Limerick East): According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the 1991 Census of Population recorded 272,000 people in the “70 years and over” age group.
According to the General Medical Services (Payments) Board, there are, currently, 230,000 persons in this age group covered by the medical card scheme. This represents 84.5 per cent of the 1991 Census figure.
I should point out that the CSO figures are tabulated in age groups 70 to 74, 75 to 79, 80 to 84 and 85 and over. The 1991 Census shows there were 133,400 persons in the age group 75 to 84 inclusive. According to the GMS (Payments) Board, there are 117,000 persons in this age group currently covered by the medical card scheme. This represents 87.7 per cent of the 1991 Census figure for that age group.