Changes ‘won’t hit 80% of the elderly’

Eight in 10 elderly medical card holders will be unaffected by changes to income limits, the Coalition said, as it accepted a Fianna Fáil motion agreeing to protect the rights of older citizens.

Kathleen Lynch of Labour, the junior health minister, made the commitment after opposition TDs spoke about older people being more anxious about services being removed from them.

Fianna Fáil launched a Dáil private motion last night calling on all public services to be maintained for older citizens in a fair and progressive manner.