Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before Mr. Duggan responds, I will make a comment in the context of the 18.5 hours but it articulates the comment Deputy Ó Cathasaigh has made. To take a child with a disability for example, the parent, usually the mother, will be caring for that child full-time between the ages of nought and five. When that child then goes to school, he or she will be in school for 28 hours a week, but the mother can only work a maximum of 18.5 hours. When that child goes on to secondary school, the threshold increases again. If the child then goes into a training centre after his or her 18th birthday, it will go up again. The point I was making was that, where there is legitimate provision of care through education or training, there should be flexibility beyond the 18.5 hours. Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's point also articulates the variation. We are talking about caring for an incapacitated child, which is the primary intention of this provision. Other people will be eligible but that is the primary intention. While the level of care will remain constant, the hours of care will alter over time.