Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

As a general statement, people should not be obliged to adjust their lives to fit a particular payment. Their lives are their own and we should respond by supporting them in any way possible. I share the Deputy's view that it is not good social policy to have people who wish to live together not do so in order to maximise a payment. I am trying to change such occurrences.

It is a difficult question. Particular payments, such as, for example, one parent family payments, are intended to benefit one parent families. If there is not a one parent family because people have chosen to live together, a one parent family payment is no longer appropriate. At the same time, however, such people have expenses. We must try to provide the same level of funds to such households, while moving away from the cohabitation issue. I share the Deputy's concern about any couple who decide not to live together, purely to maximise payments. That is not good social policy. I have asked the Department to examine all the schemes which may act as a disincentive to people living together. We will try to amend them as we go along. My priority is one parent family payments. The Deputy has asked me to consider community welfare payments in respect of housing. I must discuss it with my colleagues and I will do so.

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