Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is helpful that the change in the reduction to the qualifying age is being postponed, but commitments were made last year with regard to reducing the age of the youngest child. The situation in terms of child care for lone parents has not improved. The ideal situation would be that child care and jobs would be available. We are all aware that families most at risk of poverty are families where there is nobody in the household in work. Choosing to work is a Hobson's choice for the people we are discussing here, particularly where they do not have someone, such as a family member, available to assist with child care. In the absence of available child care for a seven year old, for example, what is a parent to do? It is untenable to leave young children without making proper provision for their care.

I know there is provision in the Social Welfare Bill for particular areas and that there will be some improvements. However, this problem is not confined to individual areas. Lone parents can be found in every town and village. Until there is some mechanism in place to assist them with child care, it is dangerous to make these changes. Are we suggesting children should be left at home on their own if there is no provision made for child care for them? I believed that when the commitments were given on this issue last year, there would be some debate conducted to ensure there would at least be reform that would provide for this, rather than just deferment of the commencement date.

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