Mr. John-Mark McCafferty:

The largest group we assist is one-parent households. The groups most at risk of poverty are children and lone parent families. We have a huge concern that the forthcoming budget may see a repeat of some of the changes and cuts in regard to the one-parent family payment. There is huge risk in that respect in terms of work disincentives and poverty traps for lone parents. Our key concern about budget 2013 is around social protections and plans to support lone parents both in terms of income supports and the services about which Ms Catherine Joyce spoke.