Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I will be brief as we debated this very fully on Second and Committee Stages. I am very heartened to hear the Minister's commitment to ensuring there will be adequate supports put in place for lone parents with child care provision. The Minister deserves our support in making sure this system is rolled out so that people are not left in a difficult position when the changes are introduced on a phased basis. On Second Stage the Minister spoke of some other significant changes made over the years that were not thought possible at the time, including alterations at third and second level. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, is making significant changes at primary level, which we will debate in the House tomorrow.

All of us who are committed to seeing the outcomes from the lone parent spending improved in tackling child poverty, as well as those who want to see progressive reform of social welfare models, must ensure that the system of child care described by the Minister is put in place. We must support the Minister in ensuring that is done. She has said she will engage with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure it is done and the required levels of support are there for lone parents as the youngest child reaches the relevant age threshold. We will hold the Minister to account in that regard as we all want to see it happen.

I have direct experience of needing child care provision and the levels of child care provision in this country have improved substantially in recent years. There is no doubt about this as more women, in particular, have entered the workforce. We must ensure standards are maintained across the sector and access is made more affordable. There are more places available and many schools, especially those which I know in the Dublin area, are offering after-school care which was never available before because more parents are demanding it. It is a matter of ensuring co-ordination of what is already there in order to assist lone parents who will see changes to the payment system on an incremental basis. In speaking of progressive reform and improving outcomes, we are all on the same side. We all agree on the need for supports to be put in place.