Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the proposal in the Bill for the back-to-work family dividend. This is a very helpful measure to get people back to work. With regard to the one-parent family payments, the transitional payment will ensure that lone parents do not have to be available for work when school is not open and they can be at home to look after their children if they can find a job. As I mentioned on Second Stage, and I spoke to the Minister of State following that debate, it might be worth creating some sort of incentive for employers to put in place a programme specifically for lone parents, so that they can work around school hours. I am sure he will have a look at that in due course and perhaps revert to it.