Written answers

Wednesday, 13 December 2017

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Income Data

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation for lone parent households here as measured by EUROSTAT in tabular form; the way in which this rate compares to the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53408/17]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The latest EUROSTAT European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions data show that the severe material deprivation rate for lone parent households in Ireland was 22.6% in 2015. This is the second successive year the rate has reduced – representing a 9.7 percentage point reduction on the 2013 rate of 32.3%. The Irish rate compares to the EU average of 17.1% in 2015 - see Table 1 attached.

It is important to note that the full impact of the economic recovery to date is not reflected in these figures, which relate to 2015. Macro-economic and labour market indicators have shown continued economic and employment growth since then. Unemployment has fallen from 9.4% in mid-2015 to 6.1% now. The number of people in receipt of working-age income and employment supports has also continued to fall.

With these improvements, the Government was in a position to introduce a range of welfare increases from 2016 onwards. This includes a package of measures to support lone parents, encouraging them into the workplace and into education and helping to reduce their childcare costs. In Budget 2017 all lone parents on the one-parent family payment, the jobseeker’s transitional payment and jobseeker’s allowance have benefited from the €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment from March. Budget 2018 introduced a further €5 per week increase along with an increase of €2 per week per child for qualified child dependents. A new €500 annual Cost of Education Allowance was made available to Back to Education Allowance participants with children from the academic year starting in September 2017. In addition, the income disregards for the one-parent family payment and the jobseeker’s transitional payment increased by €20 from January, from €90 to €110 per week, reversing in part previous reductions, to encourage one parent families to stay in, and return to, work. This was increased to €130 per week in Budget 2018 (an additional €20 per week).

The improvement in the economy, together with the welfare measures referred to, are likely to have supported a further reduction in severe material deprivation in the period since 2015. This improvement is expected to continue with further rises in incomes and living standards.

The Government’s strategy for addressing poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Plan identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. The Department is reviewing the Plan, as it reaches the end of its current term this year, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. The Department is also reviewing the national social target for poverty reduction. This review will be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Table 1: Severe Material Deprivation rate in lone parent households 2010 to 2015

2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Ireland
12.8%
23.3%
27.4%
32.3%
25.1%
22.6%
EU-28
17.1%
18.4%
21.5%
20.7%
19.2%
17.1%

Source: EUROSTAT EU-SILC, various years. Extracted 11/12/2017.

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