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

The first point I will make is that we have outside evidence and analysis that suggests a significant number of lone-parent families will be better off after the introduction of the national childcare scheme. Let us get that word out there. That is really important. Outside evidence being given to my Department supports the analysis it has done of the impact of the national childcare scheme. That is the first really important point I want people to hear. That does not take away from the other points the Deputy makes.

The Deputy made a point about the saver, as we call it, which we have developed. If people are concerned that they might lose out or that their provision will be less, we are offering them the opportunity to stay on their current scheme until August 2020. This measure is designed to increase certainty and reduce fear. It is not necessarily an admission that there will be major problems with the scheme. It will give us time to see whether any anomalies arise during the implementation of the scheme. When lone parents apply and see how the scheme will benefit them, this measure will give them time to take a look at it. This is meant to support parents and increase certainty, rather than as an admission that there will be a major problem for lone-parent families, although I am not saying there will not be hard cases in respect of some families.

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