Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

It is precisely because children of lone parents are at a much higher risk of poverty that we are asking the Minister to take action. The time for talking is over. As I said earlier, this issue was raised initially by the late Deputy Seamus Brennan who drafted proposals in this regard. He was succeeded by former Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Martin Cullen, who talked about the issue and the Minister is now talking about it again. What we need is action. The issues have been clearly identified. The Minister needs to clarify her thinking in respect of cohabitation. The proposal was to have a family payment which would be paid in respect of children living in poverty irrespective of whether there was one or two parents in the home. This payment was to be directed at the child. Also, that payment was to be made available regardless of whether the parents were working in order to remove the poverty traps in respect of cohabitation and the work versus welfare scenario.

I concur with the comments in respect of the inadequacy of quality services in terms of jobs facilitators and in respect of child care. The Minister seemed to be implying that the fault is on the part of lone parents.

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