The Government came in for strong criticism in the House yesterday over its decision to delay increases in medical card eligibility.

Fine Gael's health spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell, accused the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, of "extending apartheid" in the system to the primary healthcare area.

Labour's health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, said the most "extreme inequity" was where poor families could not afford to see their doctor. The decision would mean money would go into medical practices rather than people who were on low incomes who could not afford to bring their children to the doctor without it having a major impact on their weekly household. A working man earning £320 gross per week would need to have 10 children before qualifying for a medical card, she said.

However the Minister rejected the accusations and said there was a "political and electoral imperative on the Opposition parties to do everything possible to undermine the health strategy".

The Opposition's record on dealing with disabilities was "shameful and disgraceful and they have some neck to come into the House and lecture me, or anyone on this side of the House".

Mr Martin said he was committed to widening medical card eligibility. There were inequalities right across the health service and ministers had to make choices every year. He was remedying the scandalous neglect of health services prior to 1997.

"The key point is the access to beds in public hospitals and the largest expansion ever in hospital bed capacity will take place next year," he said.

The card had been extended to all those over 70. The strategy was to increase the number of people on low incomes who were eligible for a medical card and to give priority to families with children and particularly children with disabilities.

Mr Martin said the introduction of medical cards for all would cost an estimated £800 million. The Government's first priority was the reduction of waiting lists, services for people with disabilities and others and to ensure those with eligibility could gain access to services.

Mr John Gormley (Green, Dublin South East) said the Minister's medical strategy had "fallen at the first hurdle". The Minister had failed to provide the equity and fairness that everyone wanted.

Earlier Fine Gael's Finance spokesman, Mr Jim Mitchell, said that despite all the wealth earned in the past few years, the Government "will be unable to give people with little more than half the minimum income a medical card".

But the Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, told him "this is clearly a budgetary matter. The Government has set out this week our priorities for next year in the health area and a huge amount of additional money has been given to the health services for this year and next. "When the Government took office a single person paid tax on £77 a week. Now a person on double that figure pays no tax. After the Budget that will be substantially increased. The Government cannot do everything we wish to do. Everybody over 70 years of age, the most vulnerable group from a health point of view, has been given a medical card."