Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ms Burke has partially answered my question about putting numbers on those elements. I am not expecting the commission to provide numbers today but it would be useful from a broader policy perspective, and for the role of this committee and the recommendations it will make to the Government, if we could have figures on education, childcare and the different elements to increasing participation in the workforce. Sadly, childcare is seen as a cost rather than as a long-term financial benefit to the economy. It is important that is part of the overall narrative and discussion.

Mr. Duggan might answer one other question. Is it feasible and practical for the existing social welfare software system to pay State contributory pensions on an incremental quarterly basis, as is being proposed by the commission? That seems to be an issue in that the quarterly incremental payment could be challenging purely because of the software system currently operating in the Department.