Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I regret to say that the content of the Minister's reply is meaningless when measured against what is happening on the ground. The Minister is aware that on page 22 of the programme for Government there is a statement "The elimination of poverty will be an objective of this Government." She is also aware that lone parents form one of the most vulnerable of groups at risk of poverty. The most obvious way for a lone parent to climb out of poverty is to get a job. When the Minister came into office, a lone parent going out to work could earn €163 per week without affecting the lone parent's allowance. Last year the Minister reduced that sum to €146.50. This year I understand it has been reduced to €130. Will the Minister explain how reducing the amount a lone parent can earn with no effect on the lone parent's allowance creates an incentive to go out to work? Will she also explain how the changes which penalise lone parents who take up community employment schemes will create an incentive for lone parents to go on a community employment scheme to try to better her or himself?

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