David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

A number of people have mentioned lone parents. This category has certainly been targeted in the budget. Let us consider some of the changes that have affected those in receipt of one-parent family payment: a reduction in the income disregard from €146.50 to €130, a reduction in the cut-off age of the youngest child to seven years, and the stopping of CE scheme payments. They are also affected by changes such as the new household charge. Lone parents need that money so they can look after their children. It is disingenuous for the Minister to say she will examine the area of child care and at the same time provide in this Bill for a reduction in the age limit for one-parent family payment to seven. If the Minister was so minded, she could have removed that provision. Let us remember that the Labour Party opposed the move by Fianna Fáil to reduce the eligibility limit from age 18 to age 14.