Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a medical card application will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19546/09]

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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19547/09]

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.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has an estimate of the percentage of over 70 year olds who hold a full medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19567/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The HSE's medical card database shows that on the 1st April 2009 there were 334,151 medical card holders aged 70 and over.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her estimate of the cost to the Exchequer if the criteria for the means-testing of over seventy year olds was based on net income rather than gross. [19568/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the new arrangements effected by the Health Act 2008, a much simplified system of assessment for eligibility was introduced in respect of persons aged 70 or over, based on the significantly higher gross income thresholds rather than the standard net income limits. The gross income thresholds are €700 per week for a single person and €1,400 for a couple, as against net income limits of €201.50 for a single person and €298 for a couple. Under the net income assessment system, allowance may be made for rent/mortgage, travel to work and childcare costs. Persons who do not qualify under the new gross thresholds can apply to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for a medical card or GP visit card under the existing net income thresholds. They can also apply for a medical card / GP visit card on hardship grounds.

My Department or the HSE do not hold data which would allow for the calculation of the affect on the numbers who would qualify for a medical card (and hence the cost) if the current method of assessing means for persons aged 70 and over was changed from gross to net.