Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Finally, I wish to address the issue of tax credits. I have been advocating the introduction of tax credits and many pre-school service providers have contacted me directly and congratulated me for doing so. In that context, I sometimes wonder where the advocacy groups get their information from. They have looked to Australia and argued that the introduction of tax credits drove up the cost of child care but a costs study by the Australian Government contradicts that argument. The study shows that there was a significant drop in the percentage of disposable income spent on child care following the introduction of tax credits.

For me, the best way to get children out of poverty is by supporting their parents back into the workforce.

I will conclude now, and I appreciate the Chairman's leniency. There are umpteen reports, especially with regard to one-parent and low income families, showing that the reason those who want to work cannot go to work is that the cost of child care is preventing them from doing so. Sometimes it even pushes them out of the workforce. I believe we must support those families. The best place for a child's development is at home first, and to have economic security we must allow and support those parents back into the workforce.