Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reply I have before me relates to the carer's allowance, but the Deputy is speaking about something much broader so I will answer the question the Deputy has put.

I am sympathetic to the argument the Deputy is making. It is important that we subsidise child care. The cost of child care is a major barrier to work for many people, men and women, but particularly lone parents. The measures coming into place from September will make a big difference and will change quite considerably the household calculations people must make. It is only a start but it is a very important start and I am very much behind what the Government is doing in this regard.

I agree it is important. It is good social policy and probably good economic policy also to facilitate the choice of parents. Some parents do choose to try to get by on one income, and often make significant sacrifices to do so, because it is their decision they would like to have a parent in the home, or a parent who is largely in the home. This is why I put in my paper recognition we need to take account of this. In my view, the best way to do this is by continuing to increase the homemaker's tax credit. There was an increase in the homemaker's tax credit in the budget just gone by, but I anticipate it could be increased progressively and substantially, as resources allow, to cover exactly with the Deputy is speaking about.

I note the enthusiasm of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government for bringing the Green Party into Government, and perhaps this is one of the areas where Deputy Ryan and I agree.

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