Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for the delay in introducing legislation to provide for changes to the law in relation to social welfare benefits for lone parents. [34408/09]

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. These included proposals for the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents, focused provision of childcare and the introduction of a new social assistance payment for low income families with young children.

The current duration of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is not in the best interests of the recipient, their children or society. Consideration is being given to reforming social welfare supports for lone parents. Supports for lone parents should be designed to:

Prevent long term dependence on social welfare income support and facilitate financial independence.

Recognise parental choice with regard to the care of young children but with the expectation that parents will not remain outside of the labour force indefinitely.

Change the expectations surrounding receipt of the OFP, introducing an expectation of participation in education, training and employment, with supports provided in this regard.

Income supports are only one element of the supports required by those parenting alone. Other co-ordinated supports and services required include access to childcare support, education, training and activation measures. These must also be addressed by the relevant Departments and Agencies if lone parents are to be enabled to access employment.

The Department of Social & Family Affairs will continue to keep policies in relation to lone parents under consideration. However, the extent and speed at which these can progress will be impacted by the current economic climate.