Marie Moloney (Labour)

We are still having a very good debate and it seems to me to be a more constructive debate than that in the Dáil. I agree with the idea behind what the Minister is trying to do and the move towards a universal payment. Down through the years the payments we have made have seemed to stigmatise people. We had deserted wife's benefit, unmarried mother's allowance, the lone-parent's allowance and then the one-parent family payment. Now we are moving towards a universal payment which will not stigmatise people. Over 50% of those raising children on their own are not drawing any social welfare payment. They are working and managing their own affairs. I know that the introduction of child care services will also benefit them. Of the remainder, 47% are working, which obviously means 53% are not. We need to motivate the people concerned to get back into education and the working environment. The Minister's ideals will help towards achieving this end. Even though we are pumping over €1 billion into one-parent families, the current system is not working in that child poverty remains an issue, with a figure of 67% among one-parent families.

We should be looking towards getting payments to the children through benefits in kind such as enhancing family resource centres, some of which I have visited. They provide a breakfast for children before they go out to school, organise after-school homework clubs and after-school child care services. We should be developing and enhancing these centres in order to provide for the child specifically. Last Friday I said there were rural schools all over Ireland that could be utilised to provide after-school child care facilities. We have a fantastic preschool in my own local school which actually doubled its numbers this year, having started only last year. Doubling its numbers will ensure its future. The facilities are available; all we need to do is put in place the staff needed to manage after school services. This would be a great way to move forward.

Time and again the Minister has reiterated that she is not in favour of reducing the age limit to seven years, unless the necessary facilities are in place. I know she has given a commitment and will take her at her word and vote with her today on the issue. As I said last week, we will be holding her to account when the reduction in the age limit is made, if there are no proper child care facilities in place. We will have to re-examine the issue at that stage.