Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raise that issue because I believe to debate it properly we need to see the overall picture, including the group's overall recommendations and how changes to the family income supplement, qualified child dependant and in respect of child care will impact on families and households. While I welcome the additional 6,000 child care places provided following the reduction last year in child benefit, I believe more needs to be done in respect of child care, in particular after-school child care. As I have stated previously - I do not apologise to anyone for saying this - I come from and live in rural Ireland and know how hard it is for parents in rural Ireland to access child care, much of which is based in urban areas. We need to move to the provision of after-school child care in the school setting as often working parents cannot take time off work to take children from schools to child care facilities in towns five or six miles away. This issue needs to be addressed. I have discussed this matter with some local schools and they are willing to consider the provision of after-school care in the school setting.

We are all agreed that child benefit should be paid universally. The Minister mentioned in her speech that 96% of child benefit payments are made to mothers in the home. I have come across mothers in the home whose income on paper looks good but who are not getting the benefit of this payment. In some cases, it is being left over the bar of local establishments. Child benefit is important income for mothers. Traditionally, mothers remained in the home caring for their children and viewed this payment as a payment to them.

The group concluded that the two most feasible options are the taxation of child benefit and a two-tier child and family income support payment approach, its preference being the two-tier option. I am aware that Fianna Fáil proposed a two-tier option to the troika and as such assume it will support the two-tier system approach.