Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

We saw in recent weeks through other Departments that funds are being provided and supported for the back to school allowance, which are welcome. We had foster families included in it more recently as well, and there is also the child bonus. There has been an attempt to try to make sure with any increases or double payments that they are at times when parents need that support the most. We have to work across government looking at the different Departments and how everybody can feed into that reduction of costs overall. Where we have a role in that I will do what I can as Minister to try to reduce costs as much as possible.