Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Following on from Deputy Durkan's question - I think he voted for these changes, while I voted against them - the Tánaiste has mentioned some of the figures. She told colleagues last week that, since July, approximately 96% of the 25,500 affected recipients of the one-parent family payment have transitioned. Of those, however - as she just indicated to Deputy Durkan - only 8,100 transitioned to family income supplement, FIS. The Tánaiste made it a big selling point for these changes that she would be helping people into further economic independence and out of State dependency. However, is it not the reality that there is an urgent need to review the position? Organisations such as the National Women's Council and One Family are calling for a pause, so the Tánaiste will have an opportunity in two weeks' time in the budget to do precisely that and re-examine the matter.

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