The Minister for Children has refused to be drawn on the number of people who will lose their medical cards under a new review of the scheme.

Yesterday, the Government announced it's examining the scheme in order to save 113 million euro.

666 million euro worth of health cuts were announced as part of Budget 2014 yesterday.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald says at the end of the process, anyone who should have a card will have one - but has refused to say how many will lose out:

Last night, the Health minister said he "doesn't know" how many people will lose their medical cards following Budget 2014.

James Reilly said €113 million will be saved by improving the "accuracy" of the medical card system - while over 35,000 pensioners will be downgraded to a GP-only card due to a lower income threshold.

But he said the final numbers of those affected will depend on things like the weather this winter and the affect that has on the Department of Health's overspend this year.