John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address lone parent family distress in Budget 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter [49891/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The number of one-parent family payment (OFP) recipients stood at 88,620 in September, 2012. This year the cost of the OFP scheme is estimated to be €1.06 billion. The Government will consider the level of expenditure on all my Department’s schemes, including OFP, for 2013 in the context of the forthcoming Budget. The OFP has played an important role in providing income support to lone parents. Changes have been made to the payment since its introduction in 1991, reflecting the changes taking place in society, the labour market and the expectations and realities of parents’ lives, and particularly of mothers, in terms of work and care.

The aim of the reforms to the OFP scheme, which are currently underway are to prevent long-term dependence on social welfare support and facilitate financial independence among parents; 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.

The Government recognises that the best route out of poverty for lone parents is through paid employment. The reforms underway to the OFP scheme will allow lone parents to access the supports and services provided by the Department through INTREO. Through this service clients will be offered an integrated service with access to activation supports. The service is based on a case management approach that leads the client through a continuum of interventions with the ultimate objective of assisting the client to find sustainable employment.