Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of one parent families which are in receipt of the one parent family payment; and the percentage of one parent families which are in receipt of the payment. [5908/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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According to the most recent census there were 154,000 lone parent families in 2002, comprising one in six of all families, with 85% headed by women. In terms of marital status, 40% were headed by a widowed person, 32% headed by a separated or divorced person and 24% headed by a single person.

The number in receipt of the one parent family payment at end of December 2004 was 80,103 — up from 58,960 in 1997 when the scheme was introduced. There were, in addition, 12,225 lone parents with children in receipt of payments under social insurance schemes, comprising 10,769 widowed persons and 1,456 deserted wives. In total, therefore, 92,328 or approximately 60% of lone parents are receiving weekly payments under the social welfare system.