Seanad debates

Friday, 27 April 2012

Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage

 

3:00 pm

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister to the House for this important debate. A number of Senators have mentioned lone parents on Second Stage and the need for proper child care. In the Dáil the Minister mentioned that there was a need for the Government to move on the issue of providing child care, and this would be linked to changes in the thresholds, particularly in reducing the age limit from 14 years to seven years. Many people, including me, welcomed those comments. We want the Government to move beyond fine words and ensure there are sufficient provisions within the Bill if it is to get support from those of us who were disgusted by the way lone parents were singled out in this budget and treated with reductions in their income.

I do not see why the Minister would refuse to provide for a commencement time period in the Bill. Amendments Nos. 3 and 4 make sense and if the Government is serious about the issue and believes it will be able to provide quality, affordable child care that lone parents need, there is no reason it cannot accept them Subvention rates to community crèches have been cut by 5%, so we are seeing cuts to child care services and funding while the Minister is saying we will improve child care services.

We know affordable child care and after-school provision is lacking in this country and must be enhanced. We all support that process but we want to hear the Government's plans on the issue. The Minister asked Senators and Deputies to take a leap of faith and accept the bona fides of the Government in that it would bring forward child care proposals and provide child care that all parents, including lone parents, need. She indicated the Government would enhance child care provision and I hope she will reduce the cost of child care. Our figures show that Ireland has one of the highest levels of child care cost in Europe and it is important that we have not only world class child care facilities but that they are affordable for the people who need them.

It is important that the Minister accepts these amendments. We are opposed to section 4 in its entirety because of the way lone parents were singled out. It is important to remind ourselves of the kind of cuts put in place for lone parents.

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