Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an rún seo agus gabhaim buíochas le mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ó Laoghaire, as é a chur os comhair na Dála anocht. Tá a fhios againn ar fad an bhrú uafásach atá ar theaghlaigh faoi láthair. Tá brú orthu mar gheall ar an gcostas maireachtála ach tá brú eile orthu anois toisc go bhfuil a fhios acu go mbeidh Meán Fómhair ag teacht go luath. Tá litreacha ag teacht isteach sa doras ag lorg airgid cheana féin agus níl an t-airgead sin ag daoine. Feicim an méid a d'fhógraíodh anocht agus táim sásta go bhfuil an Rialtas ag éisteacht linn ach is dócha nach bhfuil sé ag éisteacht linn i gceart. Cuirim fáilte roimh an méid atá ráite inniu ach ní leor é. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil go leor daoine ann atá díreach taobh amuigh den bhanda agus nach mbeidh in ann cabhair agus cúnamh i gcomhair Mheán Fómhair. Ní bhfaighidh daoine ar €620 in aghaidh na seachtaine a bhfuil páiste amháin acu tada. Leis an méid atá á chur os comhair na Dála againn anocht, bheadh 500,000 páiste eile ag fáil cabhrach. Ciallaíonn sé sin go mbeidh 75% de pháistí scoile ag fáil cúnaimh agus ag fáil cabhrach. Is é sin an cineál aicsin atá ag teastáil uainn ón Rialtas seo. Teastaíonn uainn go dtuigfeadh an Rialtas go dteastaíonn an chabhair sin. Is mór an trua é nár éist an Rialtas linn i gceart.

I am delighted that we are having this debate. I am pleased that there has been an announcement tonight. After weeks and months of hearing that no action would be taken until the budget, it is welcome that some action has been taken. It is clear that the Government listened to the proposals put forward by my colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, but the problem is that it did not listen to them fully and that a whole section of people are left behind. Our proposals would mean 500,000 extra children being included. That would mean that 75% of schoolgoing children would get that support. That is the kind of action that is needed from Government and the kind of support that Galway families need now. I ask the Minister to reflect on that and to bring in the measures Sinn Féin is proposing this evening.

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