Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators and take the point Senator Burke raised. That is a case that fell between the cracks and we should look at it. That one was just unfortunate. It is important that we review the means test. It has not been reviewed in a long time. A lot of work has gone into it in my Department, looking at the different assessments for the different payments. There are many different ones. I expanded the fuel allowance last year for the over-70s. I changed the income limits. I also increased the limits for the carer's allowance in this year's budget. When this went through the Dáil on Committee Stage, we had a discussion about doing something on a graduated basis. I am prepared to examine that because when we draw a line, there are winners and losers. That is always a problem. I always feel sorry for people who are a euro or two over the limit, especially with the fuel allowance. It cuts them out. Maybe we should look at a more graduated system so that if someone's income is X number of euro above the limit they get a reduced payment. It is all in the mix. It will have budgetary consequences and it all must be considered together. I happy to look at it.

Savings of €20,000 is a small enough sum now. It used to do a lot, but it does not do a lot now. It is a lot of money, but the way I measure it is that it used to be possible to buy a really good car for €20,000. You would not get much now for it. It is the limit on savings, so there is an opportunity there. I agree that we need to look at that. I will have the report in quarter 1 of the new year and I will be happy to come back to talk about it then.