Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This reply is nothing but mastery of confusion. Although I asked him not to comment on it, the Taoiseach has referred to the child benefit scheme. This question concerns the early childhood supplement, which resulted from the interest generated and the manner in which the issue was highlighted during the Meath and Kildare by-elections. Although this supplement was meant to have been paid in May, it will not be paid until September. Families at the margins still feel the effect of the serious cost of child care.

The Taoiseach stated that 1,600 children who live abroad were in receipt of this allowance. This is not the case. The scheme is not yet in payment. He has again confused it with the child care benefit scheme which has been in operation for 30 years and which all accept. The Taoiseach made the point that the Department of Social and Family Affairs has not commented upon the costs of this measure. However, I again remind the Taoiseach that in January, he stated it would cost approximately €1 million. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, stated it would cost €2.7 million——

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