Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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628. To ask the Minister for Health the data that was considered by his Department when reducing the income ceiling for the medical card for those aged 70 years and over (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48844/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Government recognises that the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half the living costs of a couple living together and that expenditure does not necessarily diminish relative to the number of people in the household. In that context, the over-70s income limit for a single person has been reduced proportionately less than the income limit for a couple. This differential concept is not new and is evident in other areas of public policy e.g.: the State pension is €230 per week for an individual and €436 per week for a couple; the provision of the Living Alone Increase - an extra payment for people on social welfare pensions who are living alone; differential income limits apply for medical cards for persons aged under 70 years between individuals and couples; and in the assessment for Supplementary Welfare Allowance, a differential applies whereby the rate for a dependent qualified adult is not half the personal rate of the applicant.