Howlin: quarter of all medical cards should not be paid for

The Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, claims a consultant's report recommended the coalition could save €200m on medical cards.

Howlin was defending the coalition's decision to save €113m by performing an audit of the cards.

Earlier the Department of Health admitted it did not know how many medical cards could be withdrawn as a result.

But the Minister said one audit suggested up to a quarter of cards should not be paid for.

"I know what spot checks were done, for example, earlier this year," he said.

"More than 2,500 medical cards were checked as a spot check. And 21% of those contacted didn't even respond - and 4% of those who did were determined to be ineligible."

"So we want to ensure that those who have medical cards are entitled to them."