James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I did not ask the reason, I said that the scheme was to address the rising cost of child care which was prohibitively high at the time. Why was it not ring-fenced within the country? The mistake was to link it to child benefit. That money is going out of the country. I find it difficult to believe that only 1,100 people are involved. There are 60,000 births per annum which amounts to 300,000 over five years. If one adds 68,000 for this year because of the 11% increase, it comes to 368,000 and the sum is €420 million. Where has the extra €57 million gone? I do not understand that.

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