Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for taking on board what was discussed on Committee Stage. I also thank my colleagues from Sinn Féin who supported the discussion throughout Committee Stage. The Minister has understood where I was coming from on this issue, as has the Department. A large number of representations were made by lone parent families to me regarding that particular amendment. It is greatly appreciated. The Minister has addressed us in great depth tonight as to how the amendment will support the transition periods and bridge the gap between education or training and re-entry into the workforce. In a two-parent family there is always one parent who can provide support, but in a lone parent family one parent has to do 100% of everything all of the time.

It would be regressive to think that we had educated or retrained people, given them the second chance or even got them back into the workforce, when all of a sudden on finishing their training they would be back to 15 hours, without flexibility. As such, I welcome this and I will totally support it. Again I thank the Minister, her Department and my colleagues for getting this over the line. I was very passionate about it. I felt very strongly about bridging the gap and looking at this in a timely manner and supporting families that really need it. I welcome this.

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