Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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582. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions she plans to take in view of the recent report on lone parents published by the Joint Committee on Social Protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30964/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have recently received the report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection on the position of lone parents in Ireland.

I would like to thank the Committee for their work on this issue which I know included discussions with a wide range of stakeholder groups and officials from this Department. I have no doubt it will make a valuable contribution to the policy on this issue.

The report and its recommendations are currently being considered by my Department. In addition the independent review of the changes to the One-Parent Family Payment, which was agreed during the passage of the Social Welfare Act 2016, is currently well underway and is due to report by the end of August this year. I anticipate that both of these reports will be of great assistance to me and my Department in this important area.