Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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184. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the figures on the discontinuation of the one-parent family payment are correct, as this would affect lone parents in work at present (details supplied). [10490/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The figures submitted by the Deputy were also provided to the Department at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection on 18 February 2015. At that time, my Departmental officials confirmed that while they are not 100% accurate, they are in the ball park.

I am happy to again confirm while there is a small discrepancy for the July 2015 figures, it is not significant.

In relation to the projected figures quoted by the Deputy for 2016 and 2017 it is not possible to confirm these figures as the economy is improving and circumstances may change that would alter these figures by that time. There has been a recovery in economic growth and employment, with the unemployment rate falling from 13.1% in 2013 and to 11.3% in 2014. This indicates that employment opportunities are becoming available. As the economy improves wages may also increase which would affect any future potential losses as outlined in the tables provided.