Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost per year of allowing a person returning to the labour market, where eligible, to keep their medical card for five years instead of three. [28499/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Based on a recent medical card costing exercise undertaken by my Department, on foot of a Parliamentary Question, it is estimated that the annual cost of providing a medical card to a person aged between 18 and 65 years is approximately €1,200 per annum. Accordingly, the estimated additional cost of allowing a person with full eligibility and returning to the labour market to keep their medical card for five years instead of three is approximately €2,400.

This figure does not take account of the following:

Potential additional cost in terms of income foregone by public hospitals in respect of A&E attendance and in-patient charges;

The possible cost, depending on the circumstances of a person retaining a medical card, of such benefits as aids and appliances;

Costs in other areas of Government in which the holding of a medical card may be used as a means of determining entitlement to services or benefits.