Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents", put forward proposals for the introduction of a new social assistance payment for lone parents and other low income families with young children. It also proposed a range of additional services, including the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities, the extension of the national employment action plan, focused provision of child care and improved information services. Under the proposals, the contingency of lone parenthood would no longer exist. The one parent family payment would, therefore, be abolished. Instead, a new payment would be made to all parents — living alone or with a partner — with young children and on low incomes.

As I recently reported to the House, the development of any new scheme to support low-income parents can only be introduced when the necessary co-ordinated supports and services are put in place by other Departments and agencies. This is why the non-income recommendations in the discussion paper are being tested in Coolock and Kilkenny. These tests are focused on identifying and resolving any practical and administrative issues that may arise in advance of the scheme being introduced. They are scheduled to run until the end of the year and a report will then be made to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. Various reports have already been delivered to the committee.

The tests to which I refer will allow for operational and logistical co-ordination between the relevant Departments and agencies to be considered and will facilitate the development of the policy and operational details of the new scheme and accompanying supports. Although the exact terms of the new scheme have not been finalised, the objective is to ensure that the necessary financial and other supports are in place to assist families towards improved employment prospects and that all disincentives to work will be kept to a minimum.

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