Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I also acknowledge the extraordinary work of the Community Foundation for Ireland. I share this with the Deputy. The point raised by her with regard to the gentleman in her example and other unmarried fathers is important. It is great we have the report that has laid this out clearly. The strategy and work already being developed will take account of this and incorporate it. I ask the Department to look at how it can incorporate attention to this in the context of what it is already doing.

Another example in terms of the work of the Department is our support for a way to ensure separated parents, and particularly fathers, are able to have access to their children. The Deputy is aware of Time 4 Us in her constituency. In the 2019 Estimates we have committed additional funding of €100,000 to ensure its service continues to provide a play centre where children can meet their parents in situations where one parent does not live in the family home.

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