Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It may be a significant and strong support but the point I am trying to make is that it is a weaker support than the one that existed when the Minister took office. She says she wants to encourage lone parents to go out to work. To tell a lone parent that he or she could earn less than hitherto without affecting lone parent's allowance creates a barrier and a disincentive to those who want to go out to work.

Community welfare schemes are a similar case.

On 4 July 2013, the lone parents of Ireland will not be celebrating because on that day a change kicks in whereby a lone parent with a child over 12 years of age will no longer be entitled to lone parent's allowance. That is coming down again in 2014. Did the Minister make a statement that she would not impose any changes to lone parent provision, by way of qualification or income disregard, until Ireland had a Scandinavian-type system of child care? Is that true? If so, where is the Scandinavian system?

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