Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister's amendment which is important. I asked during the briefing this morning whether the Roman numerals I-III in question cover all categories and the officials were very confident of this. The only difficulty I have is that I am somewhat concerned, knowing as I do how the care system operates, about people who should be in care who never got into it. Again, it is a matter of flexibility. I appreciate it is difficult to legislate for this and perhaps it cannot be changed here. Perhaps we might bring examples of particular difficulties to the Minister in time for the next Social Welfare Bill.

There are young people who effectively have fallen out of the system. They left home when they were young, aged 16 or 17 years, and never got as far as going into care. The system failed them completely. These young people should also be covered by this exception. However, I very much appreciate it is very hard to specify such cases. At the same time, they are typical examples of the young people who end up homeless or in further difficulties and I would like to see some kind of provision being made for them.

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