The Society of St. Vincent de Paul this morning published a report which finds that poverty doubled among working lone parents between 2012 and 2017. These are parents who have done everything by the book. They get up early in the morning, perhaps even earlier than the Taoiseach himself, yet they have been left behind. This Government is failing working single parents who are living in poverty. This is disgraceful not just because of the conditions in which lone parents now live, but because there are actions that need to be taken right now.

The activation measures taken during the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government were only going to deliver one result, and this is it. We said at the time that they would push more mothers and fathers parenting alone into poverty. Who cares, though, so long as the Government can spin the numbers? Who cares that there was a failure to back up these measures to increase employment with other policy changes, such as a reduction in the cost of childcare, rent reductions, family-friendly employment practices and greater access to education? In Ireland, 84% of lone parents were unable to meet unexpected expenses. This compares with an EU 15 average of 58%. Unexpected expenses can mean a trip to the doctor or the dentist for either the parent or the child. There is also a fear of other unexpected expenses. This is why we see many lone parents being forced to deal with very unscrupulous moneylenders, who charge interest rates in the hundreds of per cent on the money they lend to lone parents and others.

One of the recommendations included in the St. Vincent de Paul report is to benchmark social welfare payments, such as the jobseeker's transitional payment and the working family payment, to the cost of a minimum standard of living to ensure adequate income. Sinn Féin introduced legislation to this effect last year in the Dáil, and I urge the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, to consider this as one way in which we can lift lone-parent families out of poverty.

Another recommendation that could be acted on immediately is to extend the cut-off age for the jobseeker's transitional payment until the youngest child is 18 to assist lone parents in ensuring they are actually better off at work. I would suggest even beyond the age of 18. I would suggest this should be extended to children still in education and going into third level education. In the North there is the child maintenance service. Sinn Féin has proposed that this be established here as well.

Finally, SUSI must be extended to students studying part time to allow lone parents to access education while fulfilling their caring responsibilities. I ask the Minister to come before the House to discuss this report. I thank the St. Vincent de Paul not only for this report and the numerous other reports it has done, but for all it does for people struggling in poverty in this country. Time and time again I have had to go to the St. Vincent de Paul on behalf of families, whether the issue be education or that they just cannot live. They cannot exist. Such families are dependent on the St. Vincent de Paul. I commend all the volunteers in St. Vincent de Paul for the wonderful work they do.

The delay in legislation passing through the House has been mentioned many times in the press, especially in respect of the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy. May I give the Leader a commitment on behalf of my Labour Party colleagues and Senator Norris? We will facilitate the passage of any legislation coming into this House as soon as it is ready. I do not think the judicial appointments Bill is delaying the passage of any legislation through the House. What we are seeing is what I would call spin rather than content. If the Leader wants or needs to do so, I suggest he sit down with the leaders of the various groups and let us schedule the legislation he says is being delayed. I do not believe any Senator is delaying any legislation. What the Leader does not want is proper scrutiny and debate on the legislation before the House for his own reasons.

I will raise one other issue with the Leader. Both Senator Noone and I have raised the issue of breastfeeding and its importance for women who are returning to the workforce. Two years ago I published a policy document on this issue for the Labour Party and we had hoped we would see real progress. I point out to the Leader that teachers who breastfeed on their return to work are given one hour a day to express outside their lunchtime break, which is only correct and proper.

The long-term health and emotional benefits of breastfeeding are well known and well established. Teachers have that proper and correct entitlement. Special needs assistants, SNAs, who work beside their teaching colleagues in the same schools, do not, however, have the same entitlement to express breast milk. They have to do it on an already scheduled 20 minute break. This has been raised several times over the last eight months with the Minister for Education and Skills.

The only response has been that the matter is under consideration. We know the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and for the child and there has to be a sense of urgency regarding this issue. The constant answer that it is under consideration is not acceptable. I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the Minister for Education and Skills and come back to us with a response. I hope the response will break down this inequality between SNAs and teachers. If the Minister cannot give a positive answer, then I will be raising this issue again for debate in the House.