Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am passionate about apprenticeships, particularly for those between the ages of 16 and 18 years. During Covid, I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to Senator Doherty, when she was Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and to the Minister, Deputy Harris, about the issue relating to 16- to 18-year-olds on apprenticeships. They could not get a single penny from the State. If they were doing five hours per week at the local deli or pub, they got €350 per week. If they were doing an apprenticeship, they got nothing. There is a huge difference between €7.03 per week for a 16- or 17-year-old and for somebody with more needs who is between the ages of 19 and 22. There is a scale that can be made. I ask the Minister of State to look at that. Those aged 16 to 18 have totally different needs from the older cohort. If ever a pandemic or anything like that happens again, do not leave out the young teenagers in that cohort. They got nothing from this State, and that was wrong.