I refer to guaranteeing work experience for people under 25 years on further education courses. In recent days I met a person aged approximately 21 years who is living on his own and is paying rent. He has been on a Youthreach programme but cannot get on to another training programme. His total income is €100. Individual cases are not being looked at in the way they should be. It is all very well to have this blanket requirement but there is a strong case for looking outside the box in some cases to see the impact on the individual. As a society, that is what we need to do.

See this item in context