Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raised a very specific concern on Second Stage regarding section 12 in the context of the working family payment and the discrimination against families with four or more children. They are the only children who are not been recognised within any increase in payments in this Bill. It is an overall cost to the Exchequer of €2.6 million out of a budget of €25 billion . That small cohort of children should not be excluded or discriminated against. I went through this point in detail on Second Stage and I ask for a detailed response because I have significant concerns about the provisions in this section as they stand, particularly in the context of the blatant discrimination against a very small cohort of children whose parents happened to be in receipt of social welfare payments. These are the only children whose parents are in receipt of social welfare payments who are not getting any increase in budget 2021 or under this legislation. When the Minister is responding, can she also clarify the position in respect of my query regarding the total contributions calculation for the State pension?

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