Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

As I said, it is my intention that we will have separate legislation on lone parent reforms. That does not rule out the Minister for Finance making preparatory type changes in a budget, as he has done in recent budgets, by adjusting guidelines and limits, increasing amounts and putting in place a framework in anticipation of the legislation. While it will be a specific Bill, the budgets and social welfare legislation will anticipate it and make the necessary preparation for it. I intend, with the Minister for Finance in our discussions before the budget, to revisit the matter of the child dependant allowance. I will examine whether this is the correct way in which to proceed. In the past two budgets I was convinced that it was not and that we should reform the family income supplement and the child dependant allowance together and that we should continue to increase child benefit and the flow of funds to low-income families. I will revisit the matter of the child dependant allowance as I prepare for the budget.

Regarding the Deputy's worries that lone parents are worse off under new reforms, the initial financing figures show that the cost to the State increases in the first couple of years. Assuming that the reforms are successful in the medium term the cost should decrease as lone parents opt to participate in employment. I have no motive to hunt people out to work where they have chosen to be with their children. That is not envisaged in these reforms. Considering the profile of lone parents, the education attainment levels and the age cohort, it is not beneficial to the 80,000 people involved or to the country to deny these people access to education, training and employment in a structured way.

At present, a child of a lone parent may reach 18 years of age before any arm of the State offers more education or a return to employment to the lone parent. This matter is at the heart of these reforms, with the removal of the cohabitation rule. The House will agree that the latter is old-fashioned social policy and has no part in modern Ireland. It is not my intention that anyone be worse off after these reforms. In the medium term, lone parents and the country will be better off if we take a sensible approach to helping these people, who are a resource for the country, to play a full role in the employment market if possible.

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