He was returned to the Dáil at the 2016 general election . He retained the health portfolio in an acting capacity until May that year , due to the delay in government formation . In one of his final acts as Minister for Health , Varadkar cut € 12 million from the € 35 million allocated to that year 's budget for mental health care , telling the Dáil that the cuts were " necessary as the funding could be better used elsewhere . " On 6 May 2016 , after government formation talks had concluded , Enda Kenny appointed Varadkar as Minister for Social Protection . During his time in the ministry , he launched a campaign against welfare fraud
the delay in government formation
2016 Irish government formation
Leo Varadkar