Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We propose that this section should delete section 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act. It relates to the change in the one parent family payment and reducing eligibility for the payment to when the youngest child is seven. We have debated this at great length, both with the Tánaiste, Deputy Burton, and in the other House. This amendment would reverse that change.

Fianna Fáil believes it is time to support one parent families, not punish them. The cuts to their allowance are unjust and unfair. We have made that argument time and again. As a first step, Fianna Fáil would increase the maximum child age for the one parent family payment scheme from its current threshold of seven years to 14. Lone parents are at risk of poverty and social exclusion and the changes introduced have been unfair.

In the context of the earlier amendments for which Senator O'Brien was eloquently arguing, I have no doubt whatsoever that if any impact study were carried out, this is one area where the Government would end up with a red face. Lone parents have been adversely affected financially by this particular proposal. Those living in households with one adult and one or more children had an at risk of poverty rate of 31.7% in 2013. In the same year, those living in households with one adult and one or more children had the highest deprivation rate, at 63.2%, and those living in households with one adult and one or more children had the highest consistent poverty rate, at 23%. Maybe the Minister of State can point to some improvements in the past two years.I hope there are improvements, because it is unacceptable in a modern society like Ireland. These figures are a stark reminder that there are people on whom the economic recovery is not impacting in any beneficial manner.