IMF calls for means testing on child benefit and medical card

The International Monetary Fund wants child benefit and the medical card to be means tested.

The IMF says the social welfare system in Ireland needs to be more targeted - while protecting the most vulnerable.

The agency says maintaining expensive universal supports is difficult to justify given the current budgetary constraints.

Craig Beaumont - the IMF mission chief for Ireland - has said that there needs to be a better use of resources.

"Targeting aims to help provide services and protect the poor at lower cost than universal benefit", he said.

"We note a number of items including the child benefit, medical card spending there are many options to help save budgetary resources while minimizing the impact on the most vulnerable".