Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The Minister announced a concession of €19.20 a week to parents who need child care. To pay for child care in Dublin, a working mother must earn €300 a week, €15,500 per year, even after the Minister's concession in today's budget. How does she have a second child when she needs €30,000 a year in pre-tax income before she gets a penny for herself? That is the reality facing parents.

In December 2000, the Minister committed to doubling the real value of child benefit. He has only started to do that today and even now, after this budget, with the extra €1.94 a week in child benefit for those with children over six, he will not have achieved that commitment. How is that for squaring up to the needs of children in our country?

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