Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the comprehensive response. There is a wide range of positive supports. When people reach 16, they need to confirm that they are in full-time education to be eligible. Clearly, full-time secondary school education is the threshold to be eligible. They continue to be in that situation, with the same costs, throughout the leaving certificate cycle, whether they are 16, 17, 18 or even 19. They are similar costs and will not differ. Many do not have the opportunity to work and would be so focused on the leaving certificate that they would not want to be earning or in employment. Has the Minister looked at the number of people who would just have turned 18 or are almost 19 who are still in the leaving certificate cycle? What costs would be involved in supporting them? It would be a practical measure to support families. Household costs have not really changed throughout.

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