Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We are told that our economy is growing at a rate of 9%, that we are back to full employment and that our budget is back in balance. This is the time, therefore, to reverse what was the worst cut during the period of difficulty and crisis, namely the cut to the single parent's allowance from 18 to seven years, which was introduced four or five years ago. I am interested to know whether the Minister will do that and what policy approach she will take in that regard. Those parents and families are 230% worse off than the average. Their children are growing up in poverty. Lone parents make up two thirds of the homelessness figures and they are usually women. Will the Minister support them and will she reverse the policy? It needs to change now.

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