The Progressive Democrats have claimed that what it calls a commitment by Democratic Left to discourage young, unemployed people from moving out of the home represents a "dramatic U-turn".
"It also highlights the hypocrisy of the DL leader, Mr De Rossa, for his attacks on the PD proposal to ensure that young single mothers should be given a choice as to whether to stay at home or leave," said Ms Cathy Honan, the PD candidate in Laois-Offaly.
Ms Honan said Ms Mary Harney had been "demoniseed for her proposal on single mothers, yet DL had now emerged with a "virtually identical" proposal.