asked the Minister for Health if he will sanction medical cards for old IRA veterans without a means test.

10.

asked the Minister for Health if he will make medical cards, free of means test, available to elderly people on reaching 80 years of age.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. Medical cards are issued to persons who are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants. In assessing applications for medical cards, the chief executive officer of each health board must, therefore, have regard to the applicant's ability to pay for these services.

The majority of the persons who are over 80 years of age or who are veterans of the War of Independence meet the means requirements and are eligible for medical cards. I do not consider it necessary to duplicate this provision for these people or to extend it to persons who do not have financial difficulties in providing the services they need.

May I take it from the Minister's reply that he will make medical cards available to Old IRA veterans without a means test?

No, not as of right.

The income eligibility criteria will still apply. The vast majority of such veterans already have medical cards.

As the number of veterans is diminishing each year, would it not be a gesture of goodwill to give them medical cards without a means test? This would be a sign of our appreciation of the service they have given to the country.

The reality is that every gesture costs money. On the questions I have answered in this House in the past two weeks, it is estimated that we have spent £72 million in providing services.

(Clare): Will the Minister not agree that any Old IRA veteran in receipt of a special allowance should be automatically entitled to a medical card as that person would not be in receipt of a special allowance had he or she not undergone a means test?

I believe that anyone in the country, irrespective of his contribution to the development of our country, should obtain general medical eligibility on the basis of current income. If such people come within that guideline they should get a medical card and if they do not they should not get a medical card. It is as simple as that and I do not propose to change it.

(Clare): Is it not a fact that a person would not be in receipt of a special allowance if he had not undergone a strict means test? If people pass that means test to qualify for a special allowance, they should be automatically entitled to a medical card.

The vast majority of the veterans of the War of Independence qualify on that basis but it is subject to check and verification by the health boards.

(Clare): The Old IRA veterans in receipt of special allowances have undergone a means test.

I have yet to know of any Deputy who is not acutely aware of the veterans of the War of Independence. My late father was one of them. These people are kept fully aware of their entitlements.

(Clare): Is the Minister aware there are two types of Old IRA veterans?

Yes, I am.

(Clare): There are the active service people who are in receipt of service pensions. I am asking about people who have undergone a means test to qualify for a special allowance. Should they not be automatically entitled to a medical card?

The means test for a special allowance is different from the straight income eligibility guidelines applied by the health boards in respect of medical cards. They are two different means tests.

(Clare): The means test is conducted by the social welfare officer.

Will the Minister state the cost of providing medical cards to Old IRA veterans without a means test and also the cost of providing medical cards to people over the age of 80 years?

The cost would be relatively small but there are many other groups where the cost of providing such services would be very small. However, it would break the essential principle that people should get medical cards on the basis of their income and not on any other basis.

What about the children's allowances?

Not a means test——

As far as questions dealing with health are concerned it is a case of taking one step forward and two steps backwards. I am calling the next question.

Will the Minister answer my question about the cost?

I do not have the money available. I accept that the cost would be relatively small as, unfortunately, many of the veterans are no longer with us.

If the cost is so small why not make a gesture and give them medical cards?

The Deputy is now entering the realm of argument. I will allow a final supplementary question from Deputy O'Hanlon, who is his party's spokesman on this matter.

Will the Minister not accept that Old IRA veterans and those over 80 years are in the high risk category and that those people who are outside the present guidelines suffer hardship in meeting their health care commitments? Will the Minister consider improving the guidelines for people in the older age group and the Old IRA veterans? The general guidelines should not apply to them; there should be special guidelines for them in view of their age and the fact that they are in the high risk category.

I accept what the Deputy has said that anyone over 80 years is in the high risk category in terms of medical care. The question of age relativity is under consideration at the moment. I can assure the Deputy we are considering the situation.

On a point of order, will the Minister give the cost——

That is not a point of order. It is an ordinary parliamentary question dressed up as a point of order. I am calling Question No. 11.