The Taoiseach is defending a massive drop in the numbers entitled to a discretionary medical card by saying many qualify for a full card.

It comes after the Fianna Fáil leader revealed in the Dáil that thousands more people have been getting letters saying they no longer qualify for the card.

Micheál Martin revealed how the number of discretionary cards has fallen from 80,000 to 56,000 since the coalition took office.

The card is given to people with a long-term or terminal illness who do not fall under the normal rules for a card and is reviewed every six months.

Enda Kenny says around 22,000 people did not lose the cards but were granted full medical ones instead.

But Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin says this does not seem to be the case.