Calleary slams government over more medical card cutbacks

MAYO Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has strongly criticised the government for targeting the over 70s for medical card cutbacks over the last year. 

“It is just over a year since the government was forced to row back on its disgraceful cutbacks to discretionary medical cards. However, it seems Fine Gael and Labour are now focusing their efforts on targeting the over 70s with medical card cuts,” Deputy Calleary fumed.

He made the comments after receiving information that shows the government removed 16,356 medical cards from pensioners between April 2014 and April 2015. More than 370 medical cards were removed from pensioners in Mayo during that time.

Added Deputy Calleary: “Figures obtained by Fianna Fáil through a parliamentary question reveal the government has removed 377 medical cards from pensioners in Mayo since April 2014. The cutback amounts to the loss of over 16,000 medical cards when the figures from across the country are taken into account.

“Pensioners depend on their medical cards to help cover costs and to ensure they have access to the healthcare they need. The government has removed a vital safety net for thousands of people following its latest round of medical card cutbacks.”

The Ballina-based TD said a number of people had contacted his office to point out that their medical cards are only being renewed on a temporary basis, with an expiry date set for April or May next year.

“It is no coincidence that these cards are due to expire shortly after the general election, and it demonstrates what is in store for medical card holders if Fine Gael and Labour are returned to power.

“These latest cutbacks are just another part of a long-running government campaign to target pensioners for savings. This government has already scrapped the telephone allowance, abolished the bereavement grant, increased prescription charges five-fold and removed over a million home-help hours. 

“The reduction in medical card allocations is another example of the government targeting older people, who have already faced harsh cuts brought in by Fine Gael and Labour over the past four years.”