Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The back-to-work family dividend is a good idea and there is no doubt about it. Nobody is saying it is not. The point we are making is the breakdown we received from SPARK is factually correct, and this has been confirmed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection. She stated the figures were right when I sent them to her in a parliamentary question. She qualified it by stating that in future people may earn more depending on their hours, but as Deputy Boyd Barrett stated this may or may not be the case. The Government is introducing legislation now that will impact on lone parents in work, who they do not have proper affordable child care facilities, and the Government must stand over this.