More than 30,000 people have had their medical cards taken away since the Government came into power a year ago, it has emerged.
Figures supplied by the Department of Health show that 31.24 per cent of the population were eligible for medical cards in December 2001 but a year later, in December 2002, some six months after the Fianna Fáil/PD Government was elected, the percentage covered had dropped to 29.84 per cent.
The numbers of people eligible had dropped from 1,199,454 to 1,168,745, a fall of 30,709.
Even since last December, the numbers eligible for medical cards have dropped further, this time to 29.78 per cent.
This means 2,049 fewer people are now eligible for medical cards than were eligible at the beginning of the year. The figures have been supplied to the Mayo Fine Gael TD, Mr Michael Ring, in response to a parliamentary question.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said the number of medical card holders had declined over the past few years because more people had taken up employment.