Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding available for services (details supplied) to people who urgently need them and who have always received them in the past because they have held a medical card; the changes in respect of same; and the situation regarding people who will not be in a position to pay for these services. [39034/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Following the recent Government decision to withdraw automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over and to raise the means assessment threshold for persons in that age cohort, it is estimated that approximately 5% (20,000) of persons aged 70 and over will no longer qualify for a medical card.

Persons whose income is above the threshold and whose circumstances are such that it would cause them undue hardship to provide medical and surgical services and appliances for themselves may be eligible for a medical card at the discretion of the Health Service Executive.