Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Dare I say that the Deputy is questioning his own decision from 2009, for which the rationale remains exactly the same today. We do not want our young people aged between 18 and 24 to be sitting at home watching "Judge Judy". Rather, we want them in education, training or employment opportunities, which is exactly what this measure has achieved. Anybody who is at home on a reduced rate, aside from the people I described who have dependent children, have every opportunity to earn either €198 per week by entertaining employment, training or education opportunities, or by going on the recently launched youth employment support scheme, which will, I hope, give them long-term attachment to a workforce and a long-term job.

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