Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding plans to improve supports available to lone parents in tandem with the changes scheduled in respect of how long a parent can qualify for the one parent family payment, and reductions in the income disregards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13808/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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At present whereas a number of activation measures facilitate the involvement of lone parents others exclude their participation. These different approaches derive from the original purpose for which the schemes were designed. As part of the Pathways to Work initiative the Government committed itself to ensuring that the social protection system incentivises rather than blocks the return to work for unemployed people, including those with families, through ongoing reform of the system. This reform will give effect to the policy principle that people have both rights and responsibilities as part of the activation agenda.

Activation interventions under the Pathways to Work approach will be based on client profiling. The key benefit of the profiling approach is that it will identify those who are most likely to fall into long-term unemployment at a very early stage. This will enable early intervention and intensive engagement with those individuals who demonstrate characteristics that suggest that they may move into long-term unemployment. The profiling system will facilitate differentiation in the services provided so that each customer receives the level of support and intervention that is appropriate to their needs.

As the approach evolves this may involve providing individuals, including lone parents, with access to education and training supports and other services such as child care and disability supports. My Department will work with the other relevant Departments including the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Health and Children in order to ensure that its approach to activation is co-ordinated with their delivery of the necessary support services.