'200,000 drop in low-paid medical cards'

THE number of people on low incomes with medical cards has dropped by more than 200,000 in the past seven years, the Labour Party claimed yesterday.

Since 1997, when the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats coalition entered Government, Labour says the population has grown by 11% but medical card cover has dropped by 8%.

Labour wants €180 million extra a year to be spent on providing 200,000 more medical cards.