Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on his impressive proposals. Up to now I had little knowledge of how the social welfare system worked in this regard. Lately, however, I am beginning to have an interest in it. As the Minister said, he is trying to bring the system into the 21st century by modernising it and seeing how best we can deal with the obstacles currently facing lone parents. It is difficult to grasp the various incomes coming into lone-parent households. They include the lone-parent allowance, child benefit, rent supplement and family income. All that money comes to approximately €1.35 billion. It is a huge amount which appears to be given out without any backup as to how it should be handled by lone parents.

I welcome the Minister's idea that we need to undertake a brain-storming exercise. We will have a consultative forum which will reflect all interested viewpoints. That process must include the Department of Education and Science, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which deals with FÁS. That combination of people can brainstorm to find how best we can examine the restrictive measures in place that prevent such people from accessing employment, education or training.

The Minister's proposals are to be welcomed and if he goes about it that way he will ultimately have a success story. The Department of the Taoiseach has taken this matter on board together with the Minister and further discussions will be held at the Cabinet table. If the Minister continues to approach the matter in this way, he will prompt another constructive debate when the proposals return to this House. We must examine how we can bring forward programmes and ideas to help those who perhaps cannot help themselves, although many lone parents are trying to do so.

I dealt with many of these issues in my professional environment. Some young people had no idea how to behave in the real world. They thought that becoming pregnant was the way forward and would give them an interest in life. They knew they would get money and that it would be enough to keep them going but those attitudes have to change in the 21st century.

We must examine how best our schools can progress. Primary schoolteachers are a great guide to what is going on in their community. They know who are the lone parents and other vulnerable people. I am not asking teachers to become social workers but they can become involved through school-home links and the start-up programme. Such liaison can get to the root of social problems. Lone parents have low self esteem and lack confidence so it is important for the community to work together on such matters. The correct social infrastructure and networking can improve things in this regard. Schools have a role to play and their input would be welcome but they cannot do it alone; they require the backup of social workers in the community.

Senator Cox said that if lone parents re-enter the workforce they may lose their rent supplement allowance. We need to involve local authorities in this area, particularly regarding housing schemes and how best they can accommodate people to help them over such hurdles. I would like to see that area being the subject of a brain-storming exercise.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment deals with education, training and back to work programmes. What is the best way to get such people back to work without them losing their income to date? There is always that fear. Although I am not clear on this issue, I note that when children reach a certain age their parents may lose the allowance.