Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

Beidh lá eile on that but that situation is untenable for the Minister. The census figures published two weeks ago show there are more than 100,000 lone parent families. In the Fingal area there are more than 10,500 lone parent families. This is a substantial cut. When the previous Government put in place the reduction for adults aged between 17 and 22 who were in third level education, there was huge criticism from the Labour Party and personally I had grave difficulty with it. Now, the Minister is saying she will not implement it but I cannot marry the fact that the Minister says that but we are passing legislation that states the measure will be implemented as and from 3 May. What is the position? What is the Minister's basis for saying there must be provision of adequate, sustainable and affordable child care for lone parents in particular?

Will the Minister set a time, for example by mid June, to bring forward the proposals from Government? As I read the Bill, the problem is that the new rules will apply to a person who becomes a lone parent after 3 May 2012. Will there be a second tier of lone parent families? I accept the Minister's personal concern about the proposed changes but the measure does not stand up. Following the enactment of this Bill, will the Minister confirm that these changes will apply to a person who becomes a lone parent after 3 May 2012? As I asked before Christmas, will the Minister give Members of this House a guarantee the free preschool year will continue unchanged for the course of this Government? Will the Minister state whether she supports the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald? Are there plans in place to expand the free preschool year?

I contend that at the very least the Minister must accept this amendment. I would half-heartedly accept it. I understand and respect that our colleagues are trying to allow time for the Minister to consider this. When will the Minister report to the House on what is adequate, sustainable and affordable child care? Will she confirm that these changes will not apply to person who becomes a lone parent family after 3 May 2012? Will she give us a cast-iron guarantee that the free preschool year, as it currently stands, will not be changed during the term of this Government?