Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies for taking the trouble to table these amendments. I appreciate them and will keep these matters under review. I take note of what Deputy Seán Ryan and Deputy Penrose said.

Following the introduction of the one-parent family payment in 1997 the deserted wife's benefit was discontinued with effect from 2 January 1997. The scheme for deserted wives under social insurance has been retained in that entitlements already acquired in August 1992, when the earnings limit was introduced for new claimants, and in 1997 when the one-parent family scheme was introduced have been preserved.

As Deputies know, the budget for 2006 increased the upper earnings limit for the one-parent family payment to €19,500 per year, an increase of €83 per week. As I said on Committee Stage, recipients of deserted wife's benefit with dependent children may transfer to the one-parent family payment if it is beneficial for them to do so. There are only approximately 100 deserted wife's benefit recipients on reduced rates due to earnings, of which 48 would be eligible to transfer to the one-parent family payment. I take the point that it is a small number and we will keep the matter under review.

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