Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals in respect of one parent family allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6262/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The number of persons in receipt of the one parent family payment at the end of 2003 was 79,181, up from 58,960 in 1997, when the scheme in its present form was introduced.

There are, in addition, 13,125 lone parents with children in receipt of payments under social insurance — 8,687 widowed persons and 4,528 deserted wives. In total, therefore, 92,306, lone parents are receiving weekly payments under the social welfare system, who between them have 150,122 qualified children.

The reality on which these schemes were originally based, however, has been substantially changing in recent years. It is now more common in two parent families for both parents to work outside the home either on a full-time basis, or with one parent working full-time and the other working part-time.

Reflecting current realities, therefore, now requires giving parents the option of working outside the home and enabling them reconcile the demands of this work and their responsibilities to care for their children.

Entitlement to payments under the schemes is also contingent on not cohabiting with another adult either in marriage or outside marriage. This is essential in ensuring that recipients under the schemes do not gain an advantage over those living together, either married or otherwise.

Much research has been undertaken in recent years into the operation of the one parent family scheme, including a review of the scheme by my Department published in 2001 and participation in the OECD project on reconciling work and family life. A nationwide consultation took place in 2003, on which a report entitled, Families and Family Life in Ireland: Challenges for the Future, has been published, which includes consideration of the position of lone parents and their children. There are currently two main processes under way in which the findings of this analysis and research are being drawn together.

The issue is being examined in the context of a wider examination of supports for families in a changing society being co-ordinated by the family affairs unit of my Department through an interdepartmental committee. This process is scheduled to be completed by mid-year.

The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion last November requested the senior officials group, which reports to it, to undertake a specific study on the obstacles to employment for lone parents, including those which may exist in the current income support arrangements. A working group has been set up to examine the matter intensively over the coming months with a view to reporting by mid-year.

It would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of this work by going into detail on the possibilities for reform, pending proposals from these committees. However, I can give an assurance that priority will be given to consideration and, where appropriate, implementation of the proposals when they do emerge.