Ms Caroline Fahey:

We are saying that it should be a universal payment. The provision of services is another important area which I will not go into now, but it and the provision of supplementary payments are very important for those on the lowest incomes. An issue that is regularly raised with us is the loss of child benefit in respect of a young person in second level education who turns 18 years of age before sitting their leaving certificate. Those young people are left in limbo in that they have not moved on to third level and cannot qualify for a grant, awarded late, or otherwise. They are still in secondary school and their parents are trying to meet the costs of their education at an expensive time when they are buying examination papers, books and incurring other expenses. We are seeking for the lowest income families who are struggling with that cut to be compensated.