Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I take his point. I have a constituency service too and sometimes I find means tests are very mean. No matter where the line is drawn, there will always be somebody €1 or €2 above it. I know the Deputy appreciates that. In the current budget we have relaxed the means test for the SUSI grant, carer's allowance and fuel allowance but not for medical cards. I take the criticism that there is some inconsistency when you index means tests in some areas and not others.

I will take this up with the Minister for Health and see if we can make some changes because I do not want people to lose medical cards or be knocked off the housing list because they got paid a little bit better or got an increase in welfare. That is not right or fair.

See this speech in context