There could be bad news for many struggling families across the country as the Health Service Executive has revealed there will be 24,000 fewer medical cards in 2017.
However the HSE say there will be 50,000 more GP visit cards introduced instead.
The news comes after the HSE claim there will be no need for the cards as more and more people are returning to work.
The HSE claim the cuts are necessary as many families would exceed the income cut off threshold required for a medical card, but they hope to provide GP visit cards to middle income earners instead.