Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the new social assistance payment for lone parents which is under development in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20794/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A recommendation for the introduction of a new social assistance payment was included in the Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents." The discussion paper also put 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 and improved information services for lone parents. It also proposed the abolition of the cohabitation rule as a condition for receipt of the proposed social assistance payment.

The proposal for the new social assistance payment arose from a review of the One-parent Family Payment (OFP) carried out in my Department. This review focused on the effectiveness of current income support arrangements with due regard to:

the needs of lone parents and their children,

the desire to avoid long term dependency on social welfare income support and

the appropriateness of the current scheme in light of the changing external environmental in which it is operating.

The new payment which is proposed for lone parents and other low income families will replace the current one payment family payment and the qualified adult allowance in social assistance. The details of the scheme and how it might operate are being addressed by a working group in my Department. Proposals being examined include time limiting payments, possibly up to the time the youngest child reaches 8 years of age.

Other issues being examined include an activation programme which would involve engagement by a facilitator with the customer from an early stage, to examine and identify their education and skill needs.

Parents not in employment when the child reaches age 8 will be entitled to apply for job seekers allowance, back to work allowance or back to education allowance.

A test of the non-income and activation elements of the proposal is due to commence shortly. Decisions regarding the new payment scheme will follow completion of this test.