Mr. Patrick Burke:

When the universal entitlement to a medical card for those over 70 ceased at the end of 2009, we wrote to all those involved. As I recall, some 12,000 people voluntarily surrendered their cards. Since then, small numbers have surrendered their cards. On foot of the correspondence we sent out in 2009, some 12,000 voluntarily surrendered their cards. In the interim, individuals have written to us and indicated that they believed they were no longer over the limit, but the numbers in this regard have been small.