John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of full medical care eligibility for the over 70s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36754/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I take it the question refers to the cost of providing medical cards to all persons aged 70 and over, which was introduced in 2001. Therefore, the question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost for extending the full medical card eligibility to those aged between 18 and 70; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36755/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I take it the question refers to provision of a medical card to all persons aged between 18 and 69, as people aged 70 and over are statutorily entitled to a medical card. I have asked my Department to make arrangements to provide the Deputy with information on the estimated cost of extending medical card eligibility to this population cohort. The nature of the request will require particular information to be sourced by the Department from the Health Service Executive. On receipt of this information, the cost estimate will be prepared and issued to the Deputy.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the costings for extending full medical card eligibility to under sixes will be available; if she will make these costings available to this Deputy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36756/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As indicated in my reply to question number 120 of 1st November 2006 it was necessary for my Department to seek particular information from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to allow the estimated cost of providing a medical card to all children aged under six to be prepared. My Department has sought the information in question from the HSE and on receipt of this the cost estimate will be prepared and issued to the Deputy.