Parents of children with disabilities have held a demonstration in Cork to protest at the withdrawal of discretionary medical cards by the Health Service Executive.
Parents say in many cases the cards are being withdrawn, despite a deterioration in the health of the children involved.
The HSE insists the guidelines for the allocation of discretionary medical cards has not been altered.
It said discretion is applied to alleviate hardship, even in cases where an applicant's earnings exceed the income threshold.
