Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on raising the living alone allowance in view of the recent report from the Vincentian Partnership, which showed lone pensioners struggling to make ends meet. [24620/08]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent to which living alone is factored into the setting of social welfare rates; the details of any analysis undertaken by or on behalf of her Department which has determined the extra cost associated with living alone on social welfare relative to a couple; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24770/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 88 together.

The policy in relation to support for older people has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension in addition to enhancing the Household Benefits Package rather than supplements like the living alone increase. The objective is to use resources to improve the position of all pensioners to the fullest extent possible. The results of this policy can be seen in the most recent results from the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), which showed that the position of older people improved significantly from 2005 to 2006, with the "at risk of poverty"rate falling from 20.1% to 13.6% and the consistent poverty rate falling from 3.7% to 2.1%. Furthermore, the number of people aged 65 and over "at risk of poverty" was significantly lower than the figure of 17% for the general population. The needs of older people have been, and will remain, a priority for the Government. I will continue to keep the position in relation to the living alone increase under review in the context of future budgets.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the agencies that were consulted during the development of the proposals for supporting lone parents that the senior officials group on social inclusion and her Department are progressing; the discussions that took place between her Department and same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24759/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents", put forward proposals to tackle obstacles to employment for lone parents and other low income families. Extensive consultation has been carried out at all stages in the development of the proposal. Submissions were invited from a range of organisations when the working group was first established within the Department of Social and Family Affairs to analyse the income support arrangements for lone parents and parents on low income. 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.

A consultative forum also took place with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs following the publication of the Government Discussion Paper. Attendees included representatives from a range of lone parent organisations, other NGOs, relevant agencies and other government departments, as well as opposition spokespersons and members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs. In May 2006 the then Minister for Social and Family Affairs participated in a debate on the discussion paper in the Seanad and he presented the proposals to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs. The consultation process has continued as the proposals are being developed in the Department with a number of meetings having taken place between officials and lone parent groups. Presentations on the proposals have been made at various fora around the country. The discussion at these meetings and events has assisted in the development of the proposals.