Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I referred to in response to a previous question, there are barriers, not just to lone parents gaining employment. There are barriers to everybody who is unemployed - be they long or short-term unemployed - and the job of my Department, my officials and I is to break down those barriers and assist people. We have a specific plan that has been enacted that the Indecon report shows is working notwithstanding the fact that many of those people who are less welfare-dependent have a lesser income. However, as I said to the Deputy, my role and that of the Department is to get people a job, a better job and a career. This is why we are focusing so much on education, advancement and training for lone parents. The bursaries were introduced by the Department of Education and Skills. There are incentives within my Department to improve the standing and skills of people in that area. That is our job.

Perhaps it is natural and human that when a report comes out, one will concentrate on the positive parts of it but I have never shied away from reflecting on the fact that lone parents are probably one of the most maligned and vulnerable sets of people in this country, which is why they were my main priority in the budget. I do not think we can discount that.

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