Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not agree with the Deputy's statement. A legislative change will be required to proceed with the alteration in the early child care supplement, in addition to other legislative changes on the pension levy and other announcements made yesterday. For children under five, the payment under current arrangements is €3,100 per child per year and after the changes we have announced take place, it will be €3,000 per child per year. I do not regard that as punitive; it is an indication of the progress made by the policies of successive budgets under this Administration and its predecessors——

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