Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 14: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on removing the rule where people in receipt of the one-parent family payment may not cohabit with their partners or spouses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4641/06]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 21: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is intended to discontinue the current one-parent family payment in its present form; his proposals to replace same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4711/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 31: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the new single parents allowance scheme will be introduced that will end the cohabitation rule that recipients must not be living with a partner. [4683/06]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 33: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the supports his Department intends to introduce to further empower lone parents in relation to the new social reform agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4673/06]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 44: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation with regard to his proposals for the reform of the one-parent family payment system, particularly with a view to making it easier for lone parents to enter or re-enter the workforce; when he intends to bring forward formal proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4710/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 45: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures he intends to introduce to reverse the situation where certain welfare payments prevent the parents of children from living together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4659/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to pursue a separate policy initiative to address the particular support needs of separated fathers. [4688/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 57: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he intends to publish the one-parent family payment review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4672/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 60: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to change the lone parents allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4658/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 21, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47, 57, and 60 together.

The Government acknowledges that the risk of poverty, especially child poverty, tends to be higher among one-parent families, larger families and those faced by long-term unemployment, due mainly to the direct costs of rearing children, including child care costs and the opportunity costs related to the reduced earning capacity of parents arising from their care responsibilities. This applies particularly to one parent families as the lone parent has to be the main breadwinner and carer at the same time.

However, it is generally accepted that for all people in working age households, the main route out of poverty is through employment. Employment participation among lone parents in this country is among the lowest in the OECD. This is despite the huge employment growth in recent years, increased female participation in the workforce and the income disregards afforded to lone parents who take up employment under my Department's one-parent family payment.

I believe that every support should be given to lone parents to give them an opportunity to continue to increase their earnings in their efforts to improve their own lives and those of their children. In recognition of this, I was pleased to significantly increase the upper income limit for the one-parent family payment by €82 per week to €375 per week in the recent budget. This measure will come into effect in July of this year. In addition, as a result of taxation measures introduced in the budget, lone parents will not now become eligible for tax until they earn in excess of €23,000 per annum.

One of the key tasks in the ending child poverty initiative under Sustaining Progress is to address obstacles to employment for lone parents. The senior officials group on social inclusion was mandated late in 2004 to examine this issue and report back to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion with specific proposals. A sub-group of the senior officials group has been examining obstacles to employment for lone parent families, with particular emphasis on income supports, employment, education, child care and support programmes and information.

We must also look closely at income supports and at how we can adjust those supports to better address the social problems that can arise for those who receive these payments. In this regard, a working group established in my Department to review the income support arrangements for lone parents, has looked at issues, including the contingency basis of the one-parent family payment, cohabitation and the fact that the payment can act as a disincentive to the formation of partnerships and discourage joint parenting — an issue of particular importance to separated fathers — maintenance and secondary benefits.

A consultation process with social partners and other interested parties was also undertaken to inform the work of the group. I intend to make the findings of both working groups public in the near future and to engage in a consultation process with interested parties.

It is my intention that the outcome of these reviews, together with initiatives already in place in my Department, will contribute to the ongoing development of proposals designed to better support and encourage both lone parents and those seeking work in achieving a better standard of living, employment and education opportunities, a better future for themselves and their children, and a more appropriate social policy in the future.