Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which she plans to prioritise and protect supports for lone parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18958/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department moved swiftly to put in place enhanced and new supports for individuals and families during the public health emergency. These supports aimed to shelter the incomes of those who lost their job or were working reduced hours as a result of COVID-19. A priority from the outset has been to ensure that income still flows into the households which need it most.

My Department has taken a number of decisions since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which aimed to provide additional supports for lone parents. Firstly, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be paid concurrently with key supports for low income and lone parent families such as the Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment. This has protected lone parents, who lost employment due to COVID-19, from major income losses during this period.

Secondly, a simplified system for declaring the non-payment of maintenance was introduced for lone parents. This ensured that lone parents who were not receiving maintenance did not have to wait until the Court Order was changed in order to get their One Parent Family Payment or Jobseekers Transitional Payment reassessed. This measure aimed to ensure lone parents in receipt of these schemes did not experience major income losses due their maintenance payments ceasing.

Department are acutely aware of the challenges facing lone parents, particularly at this time and we are continuously exploring further ways to protect and support these families.