Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to be here today because I spoke on this area relating to lone parents on Second Stage last night and was very concerned. This Bill reflects society's position on how to approach the issue of lone parents. We have started to establish infrastructure for co-ordination between various Departments. The Department of Education and Science has made reasonable progress in this regard through home-school links, remedial teachers and programmes such as the vocational training opportunities scheme and Youthreach. Communities and schools have a major role to play in assisting lone parents to re-enter the education system because many of them lack the self-esteem needed to do so.

I hope the Department of Social and Family Affairs will establish infrastructure to help lone parents. Child care, for example, needs to be tightened up because lone parents will argue they cannot return to education due to the shortage of childminders. I have a special interest in lone parents dating back to a previous employment when I dealt with many disadvantaged lone parents. As the Minister indicated, some tightening up remains to be done. I ask him to comment.

I did not discuss every aspect of the legislation on Second Stage because it would have taken me half the evening to do so. It is a great Bill, which has many good provisions, tackles a series of problems and reflects the nature of society. I wish the Minister well with it.