Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I also wanted to point out the benefits of people participating in this scheme. Until now, they were able to get FETAC qualifications.

I note the Minister of State mentioned there are indications that participation rates by lone parents declined between January and March. The change was introduced in January and it had an immediate effect, which has continued for the subsequent three months for which there are figures. The decline is continuing still. Logic dictates that if we cut the payments of people on these schemes, fewer people will offer to go forward. The Minister of State's script also pointed out that the level of consistent poverty among lone parents is 9.3% compared to 6.2% in the population as a whole. Consistent poverty, in other words, is 50% higher among lone parents. The Minister's response is to help them out of poverty by cutting their payments. I do not understand that logic. Perhaps I am stupid but I do not get how the Minister can say a group has the highest level of consistent poverty and to help that group, she will cut their payments. The Minister of State claimed this will improve their financial independence. It will remove their dependence on the State but the Minister seems to think there is a pot of gold there for them to earn money somewhere else, allowing them to be financially independent.

Two reviews of community employment are under way. Has the Minister considered as part of those reviews the impact of cut-backs on the one parent family payment recipients? Will they cover the impact of the cuts to child care schemes? Will the Minister of State consider the value of the training offered by these schemes until now?

The training and materials allocations have been cut while the reviews are under way. The schemes are now holding back from allowing people to go on training courses because they do not know what the budget will be for the rest of the year. Effectively, at local level within many of the schemes, approval to take up a training scheme or training day or week has been suspended because this review is continuing. I ask that it be concluded, the results published and the funding restored to the training and materials budget as urgently as possible.

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