Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The extra increase of €1,000 in the threshold has not been across all rates. Many parents ask me why the rate they are getting is not being increased. The Minister mentioned the measure of allowing students to earn €2,000 more during their holidays. The figure has increased from €4,500 to €6,552. That is absolutely a positive change, but it seems that it will come into effect only next year. Families think, "Great - this will really help me", and then they find they have to wait a year. I ask the Minister to think of a case in which a student has taken on more work this summer to cope with the cost of living. He or she wants to apply based on 2022 income because there has been a change of circumstances in the household. Such students, however, will be penalised for working more this year, the year during which they are absolutely struggling to get by. This form will do exactly what it was intended not to do. It will exclude people instead of including them. Will the Minister look at this as a matter of urgency to see if the measure can be brought forward to apply to this summer rather than next?

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