Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have introduced - this is ongoing - together with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, an after school child care service to assist lone parents taking up employment, generally on a part-time basis. This helps those who are employed, as well as those moving from the one-parent family payment to another. The service is available to children of primary school age and offers parents subsidised after school child care for 52 weeks, at a cost of €15 per week per child. This is in addition to other supports available.

I wish to speak specifically about lone parents who are in a period of change. I know what the Deputy's argument is. He wants to see lone parents staying on social welfare payments for 18 years or more-----

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