Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if eligibility criteria will be included in the review of medical cards; if there will be a reduction in the number in receipt of medical cards as a result of this review; if existing medical card holders will be affected by this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38157/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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A central objective of the EU-IMF supported economic adjustment programme is to reduce the central government cash deficit over the time frame of the programme. In response to a call by the recent EU-IMF mission, the Irish authorities have indicated they will consider, in the context of Budget 2013, a range of options to address health expenditure in its totality, which also includes expenditure on demand-led schemes such as the General Medical Services scheme. However, no specific decisions have been taken at this stage of the budgetary process. Ultimately, the Government will take decisions on health expenditure in the context of its overall budgetary strategy for 2013.