Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I can confirm that in the parts of this State outside Dublin, with which I am familiar, it is almost impossible to get that sharing arrangement except in the unregistered crèches which present their own challenges and dangers. The Oireachtas crèche costs €694 per month. The other difficulty is that if both parties are working they lose their home makers' allowance. Then to rub salt in their wounds there are virtually no tax credits in those cases. We need significant additional creative thinking to come to terms with the major costs involved and the provision of that bit of flexibility to allow people stay in touch and keep their hand in the workforce.

I am glad I provoked the Tánaiste earlier in the debate. I should look forward to a debate with him at any time on the issues raised by him or by me.

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