John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed with the response. I will continue to pursue this matter. The working family payment is basically a recognition by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection that, education aside, the family needs extra money in order to meet minimum living standards. As a State, we are saying the family in question does not qualify for support to educate its child. It simply does not stack up.

I am aware of the application process and guidelines. We can have another debate on the very low grant rates and the fact that, for any working family, trying to get support to educate its children is next to impossible but what is occurring beggars belief considering that the State itself recognises it has to intervene and pay a working family payment to a family so it will reach a basic standard of living. The last line of the Minister of State's reply is that the applicant will not qualify for grant support. I must, therefore, go back to the working family and tell the husband and wife, who have seven children, that the State will help them to reach the minimum standard of living but will not help them to educate their child. What does that say about us as a nation? If we cannot educate and support our young people, where are we going as a nation? I will not let this issue go because it needs to be resolved. If there are other families caught up in the same circumstances, their cases need to be sorted out and they need to be supported. The Minister of State's reply is just not good enough.

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