Anger over lone parent payment cuts

Tánaiste Joan Burton has been forced to make quality childcare a priority for her party at the general election, as she scrambled to contain the fallout from cuts to lone parent payments this week.

Ms Burton said yesterday she was setting up an expert group, to include Labour TDs, to come up with a childcare package ahead of the election. It will examine paid parental leave, extending the free pre-school year and measures to make childcare more affordable.

Speaking to party members in Limerick last night, she said: “I want to assure you that the Labour Party has the political will and we will be looking for support from the parents of Ireland at the next election to carry through the measures that are needed.”