Health Minister James Reilly has said the target of saving €113 million next year on 'probity measures' in the medical card scheme was given to his Department by Government.

The announcement yesterday of the review of the granting of medical cards has caused much public concern with fears that many vulnerable people who currently have medical cards will lose them as a result of this review.

The Minister has as yet to give details of how this will review will operate.

Dr Reilly told the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk Radio that anyone who is not legally entitled to a medical card should not have, and anyone who is legally entitled to a card should not worry.

He said a report by outside consultants PWC had indicated that savings of between €60 and €200 million could be made in a medical card probity review, and the €113 million targeted savings figure was based on that.

Yesterday's Budget also announced the culling of 35,000 full medical cards from the over 70s and that unemployed people with full medical cards will no longer be able to keep the cards for three years if they get a job.