John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his address to the House. It is noteworthy that many of today's policy debates correctly place the emphasis on the target or beneficiary of the policy. Child-centred child care policies or patient-centred health care policies are two of the obvious examples. This debate focuses on the proposals for supporting lone parents. The real focus is the child and what is for the best. I welcome the fact that we have been careful not to engage in stereotyping because it would not serve us well. There may be a tendency to use the phrase "lone parent" and automatically picture somebody in a distressed state. We have to acknowledge there are many lone parents and single parents who are in happy family-type units and are working well and provide a good family structure.

In 1987 one in four children experienced the type of poverty referred to in previous reports. That the position has improved needs to be acknowledged. In 2001, according to the living in Ireland survey, one in 15 children were living in households considered to be consistently poor. Of course, one is one too many. We need to remain vigilant in working towards reducing the numbers.

I congratulate the Minister and the Government on its previous initiatives and on the new initiative proposed by the Minister. He has pointed out that lone parents and their children are at particular risk of social exclusion and poverty which are closely linked. It is essential that organisations representing lone parents and anti-poverty groups, national children's support organisations, men's support groups and family support groups, are not excluded from the discussions on the Government's discussion paper — Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents — which the Minister brought forward in March.

The convening of the national consultative forum is an important and welcome step in this regard as are today's statements. The interests of the child must be at the heart of our discussions. They are at the heart of the proposals for legislation made by the Government, including the targeting of child poverty, delivering new opportunities and raising the standard of living for lone parents and all low-income families. Poverty creates distress, particularly for children. That is the reason the Government is working hard to tackle this problem.

Previous speakers referred to the fear factor experienced by lone parents. The key to removing fear is the reform of the cohabitation rules. For many reasons, which are not instantly obvious, the parents of a child or children should be able to live together as a family. In the study to which I have referred, people surveyed were found to be living in fear. One element of fear that can be removed is that of the inspector knocking on the door. I welcome the Minister's leadership in this regard and the fact that he is committed to examining and changing the position.

The Minister also proposes to assess the resources available to the family and the child rather than mechanically paying lone parents allowance. He is committed to assessing income levels and where the levels are low, to use the current high levels of income support to target improvements, and use wider welfare supports to tackle the problem behind the income need.

The poverty trap must be removed. Employment is probably the best way out of poverty but the system can put obstacles in the path of people. I commend the Minister for focusing on ways not only of removing the obstacles but on incentivising entry into employment in a way that is genuinely cognisant of the reality of people's lives. The reform will be based on active rather than passive support, to assist people to take up education, which is so important, training or employment opportunities.

Support for lone parents that prevents long-term dependence on social welfare and promotes real financial independence, employment, education and training is the key to removing poverty traps. This report is heading in the right direction. It is a welcome change to a policy that could have continued. By taking this initiative we are serving the long-term interests of society well and addressing the real needs of the child who is caught in those traps.