Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The Deputies know this is a complicated area. The Government's policy is clear in that it is committed to removing the cohabitation rule, replacing the lone parent's allowance with an allowance that is targeted at children who live in low income families rather than focussing on the make-up of a family. That principle is generally supported across the House. We are working on the logistics because it will have implications for other schemes and supports.

Lone parent groups have made it clear to me that they are only interested in this provided there is joined-up Government and that child care, educational, training and activation supports are implemented at the same time. The implementation group has been charged with the task of ensuring these other supports are introduced in tandem. I am confident that whoever is appointed Minister after the next election, he or she will see these reforms through. These proposals have been examined for many years. I did not invent them but I gave them a push. They are grounded in good research and sensible policies.

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