Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 March 2004
339 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of medical cards issued in County Roscommon for each year from 1997 to 2004; the number each year that were issued to those over 70; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7078/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra340 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of medical cards issued in County Longford for each year from 1997 to 2004; the number each year that were issued to those over 70; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7079/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra341 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of medical cards issued in County Leitrim for each year from 1997 to 2004; the number each year that were issued to those over 70; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7080/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 339 to 341, inclusive, together.
The statistical information in respect of the number of medical cards in the three counties for the specific years, provided by the relevant health boards, is provided in the following tabular form.
|
County |
Year |
Number of persons covered |
|
Roscommon |
1997 |
23,629 |
|
1998 |
22,332 |
|
|
1999 |
21,373 |
|
|
2000 |
20,575 |
|
|
2001 |
20,894 |
|
|
2002 |
20,376 |
|
|
2003 |
20,165 |
|
|
Leitrim |
1997 |
12,246 |
|
1998 |
11,914 |
|
|
1999 |
11,766 |
|
|
2000 |
11,555 |
|
|
2001 |
11,539 |
|
|
2002 |
11,476 |
|
|
2003 |
11,236 |
|
|
Longford |
1997 |
12,880 |
|
1998 |
12,889 |
|
|
1999 |
12,450 |
|
|
2000 |
12,557 |
|
|
2001 |
12,890 |
|
|
2002 |
12,499 |
|
|
2003 |
12,171 |
The reduction in the number of persons covered by medical cards in recent years can be attributed in some measure to the rise in the numbers of persons in employment. Another factor was the data-cleaning exercise which was carried out on medical card lists on health boards' databases. Since early 2003 this has resulted in more than 80,000 persons being removed from the registers nationally. It should be noted that most of these deletions arose from normal medical card review activity.
Annual statistical data on this group of persons was categorised as persons aged 65 years and over until 2002. While the national medical card coverage for these categories for the years mentioned is detailed in the following table, it is intended to provide to the Deputy under separate cover a breakdown by specified county for persons aged 70 years and over for the years since 2002.
|
Year |
Age band |
Number of persons covered |
|
1997 |
Aged 65 years and over |
294,526 |
|
1998 |
296,682 |
|
|
1999 |
312,687 |
|
|
2000 |
323,418 |
|
|
2001 |
397,590 |
|
|
2002 |
Aged 70 years and over |
317,374 |
|
2003 |
309,612 |
|
|
February 2004 |
308,277 |
