asked the Minister for Health the average annual cost to the Exchequer in terms of services rendered over and above those rendered to other members of the population of each medical card held in the country.

The principal services available to medical card holders and their dependants, and not to other members of the public, are the general medical service, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and free milk for nursing and expectant mothers. These services cost £77.5 million in 1981, excluding the cost of services provided under the child health service. This is equivalent to £110 per medical card or £65 per eligible patient. Other services, such as welfare services, are used predominantly by medical card holders but they are also available to other patients.

302.

(Waterford) asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the population entitled to medical cards.

On 31 March, 1982, 36.2 per cent of the population were covered by medical cards.