The Minister has said he has the numbers available for the Eastern Health Board. Is there any reason why the numbers cannot be furnished for the other health boards?

The health boards do not take up this type of processing at that level. If we were to get the figures it would mean examining every file and I doubt if the cost would be justified.

How many were added to the total number holding medical cards since the change in procedures allowing old age pensioners to have medical cards? Obviously there is a great difference between the numbers before and after the change came about.

I have not got that information.

Is the Minister not aware that health cards are computerised now and therefore this information should be available very readily? Does he know that since this Government came to power they wrote to all old age pensioners who automatically got medical cards to ask them to put in new claims. Surely the information is available from that process.

I was asked for the number of old age pensioners holding medical cards, and I have not got that information. The health boards have indicated that they have not got it. Perhaps it is generally computerised but the health boards have told me they have not got the information.