Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 749: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans for widespread consultation in respect of his proposals regarding lone parents payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1686/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," 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; improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social assistance payment for low income families with young children.

The new social assistance payment, currently being developed by officials in the Department will have the long term aim of assisting people to achieve financial independence through supporting them to enter employment — for it is employment that offers the best route out of poverty.

Extensive consultation has been carried out at various stages in the development of the proposal. Submissions were invited from a range of organisations when the work first commenced in 2005. Thirty-nine organisations were contacted, including organisations participating in social partnership, lone parent organisations and other relevant organisations. Submissions were received from thirteen of these.

On publication of the Government Discussion Paper on 'Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents', the Department of Social and Family Affairs organised a consultative forum to which a range of lone parent representative organisations, men's groups, women's groups, relevant agencies, opposition spokespersons, members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs, and other Government departments were invited. The Forum took place in Farmleigh on 27th April 2006. It was attended by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs who presented the proposals and the groups attending also presented their views. At the consultation forum groups were invited to make further written submissions and to meet with the Minister if they so wished, which a number of groups did. In May 2006 the Minister participated in a debate on the discussion paper in the Seanad and has presented the proposals to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs.

This consultation has continued as the proposals are being further developed in this Department and across the other relevant Departments and agencies. A number of meetings have taken place between officials of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and lone parents groups. Presentations of the proposals have been made at various fora around the country. The discussion at these meetings and events has, and continues to assist in the development of the proposals.