Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister will be aware, this review was warmly welcomed by lone parents and the organisations One Family and SPARK, and they were very keen to process the review. The Minister says the review will not be published until possibly the end of the year or maybe early next year. Has she made provision within her Department's budget for the implementation of any recommendations that may come from that review? Most lone parents were hoping recognition would have been given to the fact that the payment of maintenance payments can be erratic.

The Economic and Social Research Institute, ERSI, and the Vincentians have said that when you strip out all the one-off payments, which are welcome and which no one will refuse, the social welfare rates are below inflation and people will find themselves struggling further next year even though money has been pumped into the system.

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