Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

The Government has no plans to reduce the number of standard medical cards in favour of increasing the number of doctor-visit cards. This doctor-visit initiative is intended to complement the existing medical card arrangements. The doctor-only card will provide much assistance to families who would not qualify for a full medical card. The Minister explained the scheme when it was announced on the day the Estimates were published in November 2004. We will be inviting applications as soon as the legislation is passed. It will follow on in time that the cards will come on stream. We do not expect to see them all being issued on the same day or in the same week. However, the money is being provided and we hope that up to 200,000 people will avail of the cards.

On the issue of setting means guidelines for the over 70s and whether we should give medical cards to millionaires, how can we have a fair system that discriminates against a certain group of people? Child benefit does not discriminate on the basis of income and is paid on behalf of every child in the State. We have adopted the same policy for the medical cards of the over 70s.