Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

What a disappointment. I hear what the Minister of State has said on behalf of the Tánaiste. There are no plans to alter the schemes. I think I put my case well. Others have also put the case well. The issue is that it will cost to make a change. Yes, it probably will cost, but on the other hand, it is currently costing the State, particularly for women who are moving from the one-parent family payment to the jobseeker's allowance in light of other changes the Tánaiste has made.

It is important to incentivise work and there is no question about that. We do not have enough time to argue the logic of the case put forward by the Minister of State, who argued that to calculate the time at work in hours rather than days will disincentivise people to work. It really means that it might cost more because more people will access it. That is the bottom line.

I am disappointed. Having said that, is it correct that the advisory group on tax and social welfare is considering the issue and might come up with some better arguments as to why it should be calculated on the basis of hours rather than days? Perhaps it could come up with suggestions or even a special scheme to incentivise and activate women who have moved from the one-parent family payment to the jobseeker's allowance, so that in the case of this particular woman, there might be something for her and those in similar circumstances. At present there is nothing for them.