Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I would also like 100% clarity on that.

The Minister has said no one will lose out, but that is not accurate for future participants, is it? If what she is saying is correct and the clarification is provided that these parents can stay on the old scheme as long as they are eligible, it still means that in future working lone parents will no longer be able to apply for the old schemes which will be gone after a short period and therefore they can only qualify for this new scheme, meaning, as I understand it, they will lose out.

This is a group of people who are at high risk of poverty. I believe one in five working lone parents are at risk of poverty. SPARK has pointed out that under current childcare subvention rates the parent could qualify for €145 a week which would drop to a maximum subsidy of €51 per week, which would be a substantial loss. In the past I believe the Minister has referred to about 10% of parents losing out under the new scheme, but that 10% happens to be the 10% most at risk of poverty.

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