Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which he intends to assist lone parents to return to education and employment with regard to the high unemployment rates and high levels of welfare dependency of lone parents; the success of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37269/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department assists and encourages lone parents to return to work, training or further education through a range of measures administered by my Department's social and family support service. One significant measure is the back to work allowance scheme which incentivises and encourages people to return to work by allowing them to retain part of their social welfare payment for a period when they take up employment or self-employment. Research has shown that 75% of participants remain in employment or self-employment following participation.

Another measure offered by my Department's social and family support service is the back to education allowance programme which provides support to long-term social welfare recipients who need to obtain educational qualifications before re-entering the labour force. Again, information provided through research has shown that in the case of a control group surveyed, 63% were in employment following participation in the scheme.

In addition, a special projects fund administered by my Department's locally based facilitators provides enhanced support to people who need additional help to progress to further training and employment. The facilitators also operate small-scale family services projects in certain areas, which are designed to focus supports towards specific target groups with complex needs. The provision of this additional support involves individual attention, customised information and enhanced access to services. It can increase the capacity of those in the most difficult circumstances, to improve their self-esteem and personal situations through access to basic education, training and developmental opportunities.

It is hoped that by encouraging customers to participate in self-development programmes and in some instances "taster" educational programmes that they will move on to more formalised training and educational programmes.

The special projects and family services initiatives are based on the application of a partnership approach between my Department, the voluntary and community sector, the private sector and other local players in identifying and addressing local needs in terms of training and development for people dependent on social welfare payments including lone parents. So far this year €1.8 million has been accessed through the special projects fund and €1.6 million from the family services project to support these initiatives.

With regard to employment, lone parents may earn up to €146.50 per week without affecting their payment. Above that level, half of any earnings are assessed, up to a maximum of €293.00 per week. From 6 January 2005 recipients whose earnings have now increased and are in excess of €293.00 per week may be entitled to half of their one-parent family payment for a maximum of 26 weeks, starting immediately after their earnings exceeded €293.00 per week. When the 26 week period expires the payment then ceases.

As I have publicly stated on several occasions, I examining broader social policy reforms that will be directed at the breaking down of existing obstacles to employment, increasing access to career enhancing education and training opportunities and the transforming of lives through targeted supports and more enlightened social policies that put the welfare and the future of the child, or children, at the very centre. Work on these proposals are proceeding and I hope to report on progress in the near future.