353 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people eligible for medical cards in each health board area on 1 January in each of the years from 1995 to 2001; the percentage of the population in each health board area who are eligible; and the percentage of the national population eligible for medical cards. [8231/02]

The number of people and percentage of the health board area population eligible for medical cards as at 1 January of the years requested, together with the percentage of the national population, are as follows: