Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is demanding action and I am outlining that actions have been taken. They have been taken and will be implemented this year. They are of significant value. That €500 cash for someone participating in back to education is a real benefit and it allows people to get access to resources, books and so on to allow them to participate more fully. The programme of child care support is now something that has been instated as a permanent feature. It is quality child care that goes right up to the age of 15 for the child in question.

That is a real change in policy that will sustain, in particular, lone parents who are on low incomes. The Department of Education and Skills is setting aside scholarship opportunities that will encourage the participation of lone parents who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. We have a solid programme of action but that is not to say we cannot do more. We can do more and we will welcome the report and seek to build it into future budgeting.

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