Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)

Since the Minister has indicated that child care assistance is through the child benefit system, is he aware that child care costs in the provinces are approaching €150 weekly and €200 weekly in the city, while child benefit is no more than €130 monthly? How can this be a measure to help with child care if the money falls so far short?

The Minister said in his reply that equality of treatment for all is important. How can he say there is equality of treatment? For example, separated parents of a child get four times the tax credit anyone else would get. A married couple living together gets the double allowance, the married couple's allowance, while an unmarried couple living together gets the single allowance. How can the Minister say the system is promoting equality while a separated couple, be they married or a couple who have just separated, gets four times the tax credit given to an unmarried couple living together?

The Minister mentioned the spouse's home carer's allowance. That has not increased in value since it was introduced and remains at €770 per annum. It affects couples where one spouse stays at home. Such couples are severely discriminated against under the tax code. They attract the top rate of tax when their annual income reaches €38,000. If their income is greater than that they pay a lot more in tax than a couple with one spouse going out to work. Does the Minister agree it is time those issues were addressed?

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