Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said, this was reviewed and it was looked at in detail. The recommendation that came from that review was 18.5 hours for people who are doing this really important work. As I said it was only brought in this year in budget 2020. I take the point the Deputy is making about people on CE schemes getting 19.5 hours but these things are, as I said, always kept under review. In view of the fact that this has only just been changed, however, I do not know if the basis for changing it has in fact changed in such a short period of time. However, as with everything else in my Department we do keep these matters under review.

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