Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

Now that I have the ear of two Ministers and in view of the fact that another Labour Deputy has just entered the Chamber, I will make my concluding remarks.

One of the more vulnerable groups that has borne the brunt of the Minister's cuts comprises those in receipt of lone parent's allowance. They are obliged to struggle to keep their families together and during her short reign, the Minister, Deputy Burton, has managed to do more damage to them than Fianna Fáil did in the previous 11 years. Last year - on foot of the position which obtained under the Fianna Fáil Government - a lone parent with three children who was on a CE scheme was entitled to a payment of €504. Under this Government, the same person would only receive a payment of €297. There is something terrible about that.

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