Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We need to continue to increase the supports available to families and counselling services. The development of high quality universal services in child care can and will be extremely supportive of families. Anything that reduces the pressures on individuals and families will be of benefit to the lives of children. We must do all we can to improve people's economic circumstanes, but that is not to suggest this is a panacea to the problem because people can still have difficulties, even if there are no economic issues involved. However, economic circumstances have been an extra pressure on families in recent years. Continuing to focus on economic recovery and job creation will be of great support to families because the stresses associated with unemployment are a huge factor in accelerating the pressures that can lead to marriage breakdown.