Cradle to grave cuts - Unemployed and elderly hit hardest

A stinging range of cuts targeting the elderly, women, and the unemployed were yesterday inflicted by the Government in what it promised would be the last budget before Ireland exits the bailout and regains control of its finances.

There were growing fears for up to 100,000 medical card holders as the Government said it would carry out an all-encompassing review to remove ineligible recipients.

Health Minister James Reilly said while €113m would be saved by improving the “accuracy of the system”, he admitted he did not know how many people would be left without them.