Half of children with Down’s lose vital aid

Up to half of the country’s children with Down’s syndrome have lost their discretionary medical cards, and the group has been “disproportionately” hit by a recent clampdown, a leading advocacy group said.

Down Syndrome Ireland estimates around 1,000 children with the disability have lost the medical benefit, and that the practice of providing them with discretionary medical cards at birth — based on health needs rather than income — has ceased.

It is estimated that there are 2,000 children aged under 16 with the condition, but such information is not gathered by any government department.