Ms Siobhan McArdle:

Deputy Stanton raised the issue of the category of clients who fall within the 16 to 25 year old age group. There are two categories within the group, one being dependent or financially dependent upon their parents or guardians. Within that category are three further categories. Defined dependants live with a parent or guardian while in full-time education, live with a parent or guardian while earning less than €164 or live with a parent or guardian while in receipt of a social welfare allowance less than €188. However, people within the 16 to 25 year old age bracket can be deemed to be financially independent where they live with parents or guardians but earn more than €164, live with a parent or guardian while on a full rate of social welfare of an amount greater than €186 or more, or live with parents but also spouse, partner and, or, children. There are two categories. It is a complicated number but clients fall into one of those categories and their eligibility is assessed on that category.