Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)

I have heard about inspectors from the Department going out and noting car registration numbers outside houses. The former partner cannot enter the house to visit the children. Is that an interpretation that some officials are making themselves? If that persists, I will cause a ruaille buaille because people are entitled to visit their children. That is why the cohabitation rule should be booted out. It is nonsense and, in fairness, the Minister is committed to getting rid of it.

The problem is, however, that a plethora of poverty traps could be created whereby parents in one-parent families could face huge difficulties. FÁS must totally reorganise to facilitate lone parents in acquiring new training and skills to avail of employment. Neither must people be forced into low paid employment.

This must be done slowly because we could take one step forward and two steps back. We do not want people to be worse off as a result of desirable change that causes problems because it is not practically applied.

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