Written answers
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Department of Health and Children
Medical Cards
5:00 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in possession of a full medical card; the extent to which this number has increased or deceased in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6892/09]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Details of the number of medical card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures are provided on a net basis, showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other cards, as appropriate, have been deleted from the Executive's database, e.g. following a review of a person's circumstances. The following table shows the number of medical card holders and the net annual change at the end of each of the last five years, with a total net increase of 199,212 card holders over the five year period.
| Year | Number of Medical Card Holders | Net Annual Change |
| 31st December 2003 | 1,152,908 | |
| 31st December 2004 | 1,145,083 | -7,825 |
| 31st December 2005 | 1,155,727 | + 10,644 |
| 31st December 2006 | 1,221,695 | + 65,968 |
| 31st December 2007 | 1,276,178 | + 54,483 |
| 31st December 2008 | 1,352,120 | + 75,942 |
| Total | + 199,212 |
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons from whom medical cards have been withdrawn on income grounds in the past six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6893/09]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
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