Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I support the amendment very much. I did not realise a reply had been given last year when this report was requested so we need it now. It was revealed to me in response to a parliamentary question that approximately 300 young people will benefit from the changes. The idea of being able to live independently on meagre money of approximately €118 a week is pie in the sky stuff. There are approximately 29,000 unemployed young people so there is a cohort that is not being treated fairly. Their payments were cut for austerity reasons but we are way beyond that justification now. It is discriminatory behaviour to keep them in this bracket. I totally support the amendment.