Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

As we are discussing amendments Nos. 6 and 7 together I wish to speak. These matters were discussed at length and I do not propose to go over all of the details we covered on the previous occasion. These similar amendments from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin cover the provision of a sufficient number of additional affordable after-school care places to meet demand. This follows the Minister's comment when the Bill was before the Dáil that she would not proceed with the changes in section 4 as she believed seven years was too young in terms of the removal of child supports from lone parents. If this amendment is not accepted and the section is passed all the changes proposed by the Minister in the Dáil and again here will be effective from 3 May.

I again ask the Minister what is the timeframe in respect of which she must report back to Government in regard to the provision of sustainable, affordable child care services and if she will give a commitment, for which I asked on a number of occasions on Friday but did not get, that there will be no change to the free preschool year during the term of this Government. Despite that this issue is relevant in terms of child care I did not get a response on it from the Minister. I remind colleagues that the Minister said in the Dáil that she did not want to implement section 4 of the Bill until she obtained a guarantee from her Cabinet colleagues on the provision of affordable child care services.

The Minister said on 18 April: "I entirely agree that seven is to young for anyone to seriously contemplate any of these things without there being a system of safe, affordable and accessible child care in place." On that basis, I would like to know what plans Government has to expand access to, as the Minister said, safe, affordable and accessible child care. We are being asked to pass this section of the Bill but the Minister will not accept this amendment which provides that a report on the provision of child care be made to the relevant joint Oireachtas committee before the legs are taken from under single parent families by way of the reduction in the applicable age from 14 years to seven.

I was grateful for the Minister's confirmation on Friday that approximately 180 single parent families will be affected straight away by this provision. However, I do not understand why the Minister said in the Dáil that she will not implement the cut from 14 years to seven years unless guarantees are in place from her Cabinet colleagues in relation to the provision of adequate child care services. I am none-the-wiser since Friday. I gave a great deal of thought to this matter over the weekend and it still does not make any sense to me. I would like to know from the Minister if a report is to be compiled on affordable, accessible child care services and, if she will give a commitment to this House that at the very least Government will not make any changes during its term in office to the free preschool year.