Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As I understand it, the early child care supplement was introduced by the Government on the basis of child care costs as they pertain in this country. Was the Government fully aware of the implications of the payment being linked to child benefit and therefore being available for children not living here? Given the supplement was introduced as a child care cost measure, a different categorisation could have prevented any abuse, and notwithstanding the directive, it would also have meant we would not run the risk of abuse.

Does the Taoiseach know the number of migrant workers here who have children living abroad? Is it well over 100,000 or——

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