Ms Saoirse Smith:

I apologise as I had trouble hearing Deputy Feighan. Regarding the medical card, everything is means tested. If someone wins an award, disability allowance, the medical card and everything else like that are taken. In my job I constantly have to worry. I want to go for a promotion in my job, but I need to think about what I would lose. I would lose the help for my chair. My chair costs about €4,000. The wheels alone cost €400. I then need to pay for someone to fix the chair. My chair is like a car; it needs to be serviced every few months and that costs €120.

Regarding my medications, I do not just have cerebral palsy but have other things as well, which is unfortunate. It is a constant fear. I have that fear now and it gives me anxiety. Many of the things I do regularly give me anxiety and depression. I go to counselling which I pay for myself. I asked for help for counselling in 2019 and I was only contacted last year for assistance under mental health. Everything is so expensive for disabled people - our equipment, our medication and house adaptations. I have adaptations in my home. I need my medical card to help me to live. If I am to live by myself, I need the adaptations in my house so I can be independent and do not rely on my partner and my mother to help me. I do not want to rely on them. I want to be independent. It really needs to stop being means tested. I am not earning enough to pay for my medical bills.