Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to speak briefly on section 12.I am happy there will be a report on the changes to the one parent family payment, OPFP. In preparing the report on the financial and social effects of the amendments, reference is made to taking into account the effect on welfare dependency and the poverty rates of those in receipt. I would like to be clear that in looking at the financial and social effects, the Minister is not limiting them to the questions of welfare dependency and the poverty rates. He should also consider outcomes such as the number of lone parents entering education, which is an important financial and social effect, and the quality of work lone parents are taking up. Many of the financial and social effects are not simply measurable by poverty rates or whether people are on the live register or in employment. There is an issue about the quality of outcome for lone parents. This issue has been coming up because people have found that longer-term options that they might have been interested in have become more difficult for them to pursue, but I will look to see what the report finds.

The joint committee is also looking into this area and we will publish a report and recommendations. Will the Minister indicate that he is interested in a dialogue between these two documents? I am sure that will be the case.