Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

The saving we are required to make, and have no option but to make under the four-year recovery agreement, is €17 million. In the context of spending €180 million per annum, that is quite a small saving. Given the actual per capita cost to the State of supplying the service is €1,020 per annum, a €50 charge is not unreasonable, particularly when one takes into consideration that all families who are holders of medical cards are exempt from the charge.

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