Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 18:

In page 6, before section 4, to insert the following new section:

"4.—The Minister shall, within three months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the number of eligible persons and proportion thereof availing of the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, among low income families.".

As I said on Second Stage, I appreciate the amount of money that has gone into this sector but I would ask that the Minister would report on the numbers of eligible persons availing of the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance among low income families. I note particularly that lone parents who are working part-time are not entitled to claim the allowance. Therefore, working parents will not benefit from the minimal €20 increase in this payment. As I said to the Minister on Second Stage, I do not see how this offers any incentive to encourage lone parents to go back to work. Will the Minister address this point?