Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I support Senator O'Meara's amendment. It is our duty to support lone parents. That 31% of them are living in consistent poverty is all the more reason we should support them in every possible way. One must look at the Government's poor record in this regard, although it may not have happened on the current Minister's watch. I recall the "savage 16" cuts. Senator O'Meara referred to some of them but the cut in the back-to-education allowance was only partially reversed in budget 2005. That allowance enabled people to help themselves.

The Government was forced to reverse certain cuts, including the crèche supplement and the widow's and lone parent's allowances. Senator O'Meara referred to the issue of child care which comes into the equation. Last week, I commended the equal opportunities child care programme because there is no doubt that it provides capital assistance in disadvantaged areas. Social welfare services to such areas need to be integrated in order to help children and their parents. In this regard, the Minister should contact his counterpart in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to ensure such an integration of services in support of children and their parents.