Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The CSO statistics do not capture what the Deputy is seeking. I contend, conservatively, that the figure runs to tens of thousands. As the Deputy says, many young parents are in good employment and do not claim any allowances at all. The Deputy is absolutely correct in that regard.

I do not know how the CSO statistics are compiled. The Deputy may look at some of the statistics on women in employment and our own unemployment statistics. There are over 80,000 people doing part-time work, some of whom, but not all, are probably lone parents. I could not say whether they are collecting any payment. I do not have the exact statistics.

When I was involved in the Department's current development, the critical point raised was that there are really positive outcomes for those who become lone parents at a really young age if they stay connected to education and training and continue therein almost as soon as maternity leave is over. Such people's outcomes, in terms of financial independence, are really strong. They are probably just the same as those of everybody else if they stay on at school and go to college.

The back-to-education allowance is available. There are many supports. Under certain courses, the VECs have child care. There are just under 3,000 child care places within the VEC and FETAC structures. There are many provisions that strongly encourage lone parents to continue with education. Statistics show the average period for which people avail of the lone-parent's allowance is 6.1 years. Some end up availing of the allowance for a very long period. These are the people we would like to connect to education and training as early as possible. In practice, education and training may qualify them most to get a job.

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