David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the maximum that can be earned per week which will allow persons to receive the full amount of the one parent family payment; when this figure was last adjusted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6324/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The one parent family payment is the income support scheme for separated, unmarried and widowed persons and also for prisoners' spouses. It was introduced in 1997 when it replaced a number of schemes for different categories of lone parent. Under the one parent family payment scheme lone parents are encouraged to maximise their income from different sources and the means test for the scheme makes allowance for the exemption of significant levels of earnings.

A person can earn up to €146.50 per week, known as the "earnings disregard", without affecting their entitlement to receive the maximum rate of one parent family payment. Where a person's earnings exceed €146.50 weekly, half of the remainder of earnings up to €293 is assessed as means. Entitlement to one-parent family payment ceases where a claimant's weekly earnings exceed €293.

A claimant who has been in receipt of one parent family payment for 52 consecutive weeks whose earnings subsequently exceed €293 per week will not have the payment stopped immediately. He or she will be entitled to half of his or her one parent family payment for a maximum of 26 weeks, starting immediately subsequent to earnings exceeding €293.00 per week, subject to him or her satisfying all the other qualifying conditions. Payment will cease after 26 weeks.

My Department is committed in 2005 to reviewing the income support arrangements for lone parents. The issue of the earnings disregard will be examined in that context.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the islands on which the special island allowance is applicable; the criteria used to define islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6326/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The island allowance applies to certain social welfare claimants whose permanent place of residence is on an offshore island which is not connected to the mainland by bridge. A list of qualifying islands follows this reply.

The budget in 2001 provided for the introduction of an islanders' allowance of €12.70 for social welfare recipients aged 66 and over. The budget in 2003 extended the allowance to islanders in receipt of a long-term disability payment. The Social Welfare Bill 2005 provides for a further extension of this allowance to residents on qualifying islands who are in receipt of an equivalent payment from another EU country. Qualifying islands: Arranmore Island, Donegal; Bere Island, Cork; Clare Island, Mayo; Clear Island, Cork; Clyinsh Island, Mayo; Dursey Island, Cork; Foynes Island, Limerick; Gola Island, Donegal; Illaunmore, Galway; Inchaghaun Island, Galway; Inishbarra Island, Galway; Inishbiggle, Mayo; Inishboffin, Donegal; Inishboffin, Galway; Inishcottle, Mayo; Inisheer, Galway; Inishfree, Donegal; Inishgort, Mayo; Inishlyre, Mayo; Inishmaan, Galway; Inishmore, Galway; Inishmulcichy, Sligo; Inishnakillew, Mayo; Inishodriscol, Cork; Iniskturk, Mayo; Lambay Island; Long Island, Cork; Omey Island, Galway; Sherkin Island, Cork; Tory Island, Donegal; Whiddy Island, Cork; and Island Roy, Donegal.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of lone parents who received transitional half rate payment in 2003 and 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6327/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The transitional half rate payment is a payment made to lone parents whose earnings from employment exceed the statutory limit of €293.00 per week and who were in receipt of one parent family payment for 52 consecutive weeks immediately prior to their earnings exceeding the limit.

At 31 December 2003, a total of 759 lone parents were in receipt of the transitional half-rate payment. At the end of 2004, 250 lone parents were in receipt of this payment. This reduction was due to the fact that the arrangement was discontinued with effect from 19 January 2004 but was subsequently re-introduced with effect from 6 January 2005. The payment is now made for a period of 26 weeks commencing from the date the earnings exceed the statutory limit.