(1) Subject to this Chapter, in the case of a person whose means are insufficient to meet his or her needs, regulations may provide for a weekly or monthly payment to supplement that person's income.

(1A) Notwithstanding section 196(1)(a), in determining entitlement to a supplement in accordance with this section, where the person has not attained the age of 25 years and is not in receipt of a payment under section 142A or 197(2), the weekly needs of that person shall be taken to be -

(a) in the case of a person who has no means, the amount calculated in accordance with section 197(1), or

(b) in the case of a person who has means, the amount calculated in accordance with section 197(1) which would be appropriate if that person had no means, reduced by €1 per week for every €1 of his or her weekly means.