Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I was interested in the exchange and the figures. Much of these were dealt with when discussing the last amendment. The amendment before us logically follows the acceptance of the previous section but it also reinforces the point we were making.

The intention of the Minister is to reduce a child's age of eligibility for the one-parent family payment from 14 to seven. Given her comments, we would have liked to have seen a transitional timetable for the delivery of the additional supports, particularly after-school supports, that have been mentioned.

This amendment follows on from the last section. I am still none the wiser as to what occurred in the past year that merited the proposed change. A year and a half ago or two years ago, we debated a Government Bill to reduce an age of eligibility from 18 to 14. I am none the wiser as to why, two years later, we must lower the age to seven, given that there are no cost implications. Why move at the speed suggested? There is usually a more gradual reduction when introducing such a substantial change.

If one's claim started before 27 April 2011, the eligibility age will reduce by one year at a time until 2014, in which year it will drop from 16 to seven. If one's claim started between 27 April 2011 and 3 May 2012, the eligibility age will reduce each year in the period 2012 to 2015 from 14 to 12 to ten to seven. This seems quite gradual.

I mentioned earlier that the change allowed for in respect of the voluntary contribution amendments was gradual, or over 15 years. It is coming into effect as of now. This is usually the type of approach taken. The drop for existing applicants is substantial, as if the Minister wanted the whole process to be finished by 2015.

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