A Green Party TD says lower jobseekers allowance rates for under 25s should be abolished.
Patrick Costello believes pressures from the cost of living crisis are making young people more vulnerable.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has ruled out the idea, saying it would cost nearly an additional 65 million euro.
But Deputy Costello says the Government should be looking to protect people:
"The purpose of Social Protection payments is to ensure people can make ends meet and to ensure they have enough money to look after themselves. If we are not providing that by giving them the rate that we're giving everyone else, then we're not doing our job".
