Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the additional cost to the Exchequer if all medical card limits were raised to the lowest social welfare rates for adults and children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35040/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the current medical card assessment guidelines, all persons whose weekly incomes are derived solely from Department of Social and Family Affairs payments or Health Service Executive payments, even if these exceed the stated threshold, qualify for a medical card. My Department is unable to assess with accuracy the cost of raising all medical card limits to the lowest social welfare rates for adults and children as the effect of this action on medical card numbers is unknown.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to the Exchequer of administering the medical card scheme per medical card application. [35041/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has the operational and funding responsibility for the medical card benefit. Therefore, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address this matter and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.