Aideen Hayden (Labour)

I call for a debate on the role of younger people in society. A number of measures were introduced in the last budget and by the previous Government that when looked at collectively give a clear and somewhat insidious message to our younger people. I think in particular of three specific measures.

In the previous budget, jobseeker's allowance for young people between the ages of 18 to 21 was cut to €100, and to €144 for those between 22 and 24, not on the basis of need but purely on the basis of age.

In the dying days of the previous Government, the then Minister responsible for housing reduced the eligibility of young single people to rent supplement.