Mr. Robert Thornton:

With the MESL research, we have been looking at what families and households need for an acceptable minimum standard of living for 20 years and we have consistently found that households with older children have the highest costs. Older children cost about 60% more than their younger siblings. In fact, an older child costs more to the household than having a second adult in the household. They have significant costs. In 2025, it was around €158 for that older child. Social welfare provides about €101 per week on average so that is a €57 gap. It is only meeting 64% of their needs. The adjustments to the child support payment will make a significant difference next year but, as Ms. Bayliss was saying, with the core rates for adults and the fuel allowance not keeping up with the change in living costs, we do not see the gap improving overall for the households. While the gap is improving for the child, the child lives in a household and ultimately, the needs are still not being met.