Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I fought that measure tooth and nail when I was a Senator, so I am very well aware of those measures to cut. In respect of the commitments that I effectively put in and am pursuing in the programme for Government, particularly in relation to lone parents, which Deputy Wallace referenced in his question, the programme for Government commits to the design of a working family payment, particularly for low-income or even jobless households. In that regard, I am engaging in serious conversations and meetings with the Department of Social Protection to ensure, as provided in the commitment, that within the context of that design is the opportunity to raise those income disregards, particularly for lone parents, so that it will effectively be a measure that will not only reduce disincentives to taking up employment for low-income households but will also be a measure that will directly impact on children's poverty.

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