Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

It is ironic that in the past 13 years of Fianna Fáil in government, at a time of high employment, we have listened to the late Séamus Brennan, as Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and his predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Cullen, and now the current Minister, Deputy Hanafin, proposing changes to the lone parent allowance. Yet, when it might have been possible for lone parents to be activated into employment, nothing was done. Now that there are far fewer employment opportunities the Government is considering forcing them into employment.

Delegates from various groups representing lone parents attended a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs where they informed us that 84% of lone parents are working, seeking work or engaged in education and training. Their main concern is that there be clarity on when a decision will be made, particularly in regard to the age at which payments will cease for the children of lone parents. When are we likely to get finality - in the words of one of the Minister's colleagues - on this matter? When will people be told where they stand?

The Minister has spoken about the issue of flexibility, something that is of particular importance for lone parents. In regard to poverty traps, will the Minister look at total household income rather than hours worked in calculating entitlement to different social welfare benefits?

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