Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I am glad the Minister can clarify it.

A new employer PRSI incentive scheme was announced in December and was supposed to be in place earlier this year but there is still no sign of it. With 439,000 people on the live register and a further 70,000 expected to join them this year, the scheme is worth implementing. Fine Gael made a similar proposal in our pre-budget submission because it is expensive for employers to hire staff and an incentive scheme may support them in doing so.

The changes to the lone parent's allowance gives rise to difficult issues. Lone parents are at serious risk of poverty because it is not easy to raise children alone. The State has recognised that single parenthood is challenging and it is willing to support lone parents. In this Bill, however, the Government is making a statement that such support will no longer be provided once a child reaches 13 years of age. Anyone with knowledge of the education system will be aware that the transition from primary to secondary school is a difficult time for the children involved, many of whom are aged 13 years. The State is now demanding that single parents with a child of this age, primarily mothers, should be available for work. I question that approach.

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