Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Having listened to some of the carefully crafted speeches by Members on Government benches and Deputies joined to the Government's hip, I wondered whether they spoke to the motion or the amendment. Like the people on this side of the House, they have received much correspondence from community child care facilities in their constituencies expressing concern about it. If this revised programme were so wonderful I doubt we would have had such contributions from the Opposition. The proposal reduces people's incentives to return to work. As far back as the Tallaght strategy it was recognised that we had to get people back to work, encourage them and show that taking a job would not penalise them. However this scheme will penalise people.

I have had representations from various groups including Wicklow County Childcare Committee and Arklow and Newtown community play groups. They feel they are becoming data collectors for the Department of Social and Family Affairs. I have used a credit union and while I do not divulge all my financial details to it, I trust it. The play groups have built up good relationships with their clients over the years and it has been a good scheme. It has worked and community play groups have tailored their facilities to the scheme that was in place. The Fine Gael Parliamentary Party has met officials from the Department, who took on board the concerns and suggestions. Judging by this amendment the suggestions are recognised but nothing will be done about them. This scheme should not be enacted until the end of 2008 at the earliest, or when all the data that is being sought has been gathered. The child care facility providers are not the right conduit to gather that data. I urge the House to support the motion.

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