The Government has been accused of ‘targeting vulnerable older people', after new figures revealed that almost 7,000 people over the age of 70 lost their medical cards during a one-month period.

The figures that were released to Fianna Fail show that the number of people over the age of 70 with medical cards fell from 332,872 at the start of September to 326,034 at the start of October - a drop of 6,838.

According to Fianna Fail's health spokesperson, Billy Kelleher, there has been a ‘rapid acceleration in the number of over 70s having their medical cards removed in the last month causing increased anxiety and stress for these people and their families'.

"Older people have been singled out by this Government, which has imposed a raft of callous cuts over the last four Budgets. It slashed the Household Benefits package, abolished the telephone allowance, reduced the fuel allowance and ordered a review of medical cards. All of these measures have adversely affected the lives of the oldest and most vulnerable in this country," Deputy Kelleher insisted.

He described the move as an ‘astonishing betrayal by the Taoiseach' and called on the Government to address the situation ‘as a matter of urgency'.