David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation regarding the implementation of lone parent proposals; when the necessary legislation regarding same will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17200/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government discussion paper, Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents, puts forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of childcare; improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social assistance payment for low income families with young children. The paper also proposes the abolition of the cohabitation rule as a condition for receipt of the proposed social assistance payment.

One of the proposals in the report is that the upper income limit for the new social assistance payment should be set at €400 per week. This element of the proposal was achieved with the increase in the upper income limit for the one parent family payment to €400 per week with effect from May this year.

The new social assistance payment, currently being developed by officials in my Department will have the long term aim of assisting people to achieve financial independence through supporting them to enter employment — the avenue that offers the best route out of poverty. Any proposed new payment can only be introduced when the necessary co-ordinated supports and services are put in place by other Departments and Agencies. This is why the Government has instructed the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion to draw up an implementation plan to progress the non-income recommendations in tandem with the development of the legislation required in my Department to introduce a new payment scheme.

Work on the development of this implementation plan is progressing. Issues including access to childcare support, education, training and activation measures are being discussed with the relevant Departments and Agencies. The development of legislation to introduce the new social assistance payment has been prioritised in my Department and work on this is at an advanced stage.

To further inform the process, my Department, with the co-operation of FÁS, the Office of the Minister for Children and the Department of Education and Science, will test the proposals in both an urban and rural setting. These tests will focus on identifying and resolving the practical and administrative issues that may arise. The tests will allow for operational and logistical co-ordination between the relevant departments and agencies to be considered and developed and will facilitate the development of the new scheme. It is planned that these tests will roll out in the Autumn.