Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Rabbitte should check the spelling of my name.

A single person aged 70 years and over and earning €36,500 or less per annum and couples earning €73,000 or less per annum can be certain that they will retain their medical card. Persons aged 70 years and over who earn above these amounts will, if they so wish, be considered by the Health Service Executive for a discretionary medical card based on their personal circumstances and medical needs.

Deputies will be aware that 1.3 million people currently have a medical card. The general medical service scheme has worked well since its introduction in 1972. The objective of the scheme is to ensure the medical card benefit is available to those who are unable, without undue hardship, to meet the costs of health services for themselves and their dependants. The number of people with medical cards continues to grow because of the increasingly difficult economic circumstances in which we find ourselves.

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