Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details on his proposal to oblige single parents to seek work once their child is eight years of age; the consultation that has taken to place with relevant stakeholders on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5523/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents, put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents, the extension of the national employment action plan to focus on lone parents, focused provision of child care, improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social assistance payment for low income families with young children.

The new social assistance payment, currently being developed by officials in my Department will have the long-term aim of assisting people to achieve financial independence through supporting them to enter employment as it is employment that offers the best route out of poverty.

Active engagement will take place with recipients of the payment with a progression plan being agreed to support the person into education, training and employment. This engagement will increase when the youngest child reaches a certain age, with an expectation that the person will seek part-time employment, education or training for a period, before then moving on to seek full-time employment as the youngest child gets older.

Extensive consultation has been carried out at all stages in the development of the proposal. Submissions were invited from a range of organisations when the working group was first established within the Department of Social and Family Affairs to analyse the income support arrangements for lone parents and parents on low income. Thirty-nine organisations were contacted, including organisations participating in social partnership, lone parent organisations and other relevant organisations. Submissions were received from 13 of these.

A consultative forum also took place with the then Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Séamus Brennan, following the publication of the Government discussion paper. Attendees included representatives from a range of lone parent organisations, other NGOs, relevant agencies and other Departments, as well as Opposition spokespersons and members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs.

In May 2006 the then Minister, Deputy Brennan, participated in a debate on the discussion paper in the Seanad and has presented the proposals to the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs. This consultation has continued as the proposals are being developed in the Department with a number of meetings having taken place between officials and lone parents groups. Presentations of the proposals have been made at various fora around the country. The discussion at these meetings and events continues to assist in the development of the proposals.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister for his somewhat historical reply giving a rundown on the position to date. Next month it will be two years since his predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Brennan, published the findings following the report. As the Minister stated, Deputy Brennan engaged in consultation in major fora, etc.

When will decisions be made in this regard? The Minister has stated that he would like to see changes in the next budget and he has given us some idea of the way he intends to go about it. Prior to that will people know, not so much the figures in terms of payment which will be announced in the budget but exactly how it will operate? Has the Minister reached a decision as to whether the proposals will be mandatory or voluntary? That is a important issue and it will be a difficult matter on which to make a decision.

In terms of the practicalities, the Minister has spoken about consultation. Obviously, the availability of transport to get people to work, training, etc., will be an issue, particularly in rural areas. The second stumbling block will be child care facilities. Has the Minister any proposals to get over those two major problems?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In the first instance, the report on the pilot schemes I am awaiting will be submitted this month and then I expect to make a report to the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion on the issue.

Deputy Enright correctly identified that there is a range of bodies and agencies involved in the process. It is not something I can deliver on my own from my Department but we are determined to lead it. Deputy Enright correctly stated that is my wish to introduce the changes for budget 2009.

The pilot scheme indicates, according to early notional discussion I have had, that those who come voluntarily to the scheme find, perhaps to their surprise, that it is quite a positive experience. It is not about trying to take assistance people have through the social welfare system away from them, but trying to work positively with them to get them back to work. One of the issues with regard to lone parents is that many of them left school at an early age, resulting in education and literacy issues. It is all very well to say, let us get people back into the workplace, but we must ensure they have the tools to get back, the achievement of which will be a substantive issue.

I would like a positive message to go out from all the different organisations, and particularly from the Oireachtas, that this is a positive move. All the representative bodies of the lone parent groups are in favour of this and welcome and support it. We are trying to agree a forward strategy. My concern is that if we do not have some formalised way of getting people to interact with the system, not many will take part on a voluntary basis.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It might be more appropriate to say the organisations are in favour of change. However, they do not know as yet what change is proposed by the Department in terms of how it will operate. When will we get more information with regard to how the Minister intends to go about this? Will he present it as a fait accompli or will there be negotiation on it?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The two pilot schemes in Kilkenny and Coolock have been filtering the information and looking at the wide range of issues involved, some we might not even have considered. It is surprising the issues that arise only when we interact with people. The Deputy identified child care as an issue. We are all aware that will be a major issue for many of these people in getting them into part-time work, or even in facilitating training and education before ultimately getting them into the workplace. When the pilot scheme is complete — I understand that will be this month — it will provide the basis of information with regard to what the customer, the people we are trying to assist, wants and to how we may use a cross-departmental and cross-agency approach to facilitate people to move on.

The primary purpose is to get these people, who form the most vulnerable group in terms of poverty, out of poverty. The best way to achieve that is to give people the means to get into employment. That is what it is about.