Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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343. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will extend the age limit of a child for parents (details supplied) claiming job seekers transitional payment while the parent is in university; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60231/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a number of options for income support to lone parents once their entitlement to the One-Parent Family Payment ceases.  These include the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment where the youngest child is aged 7 to 13 years, inclusive, and the Jobseeker’s Allowance payment which may be paid to lone parents where the youngest child is aged 14 or over. 

The Working Family Payment is also available to lone parents who are working 19 or more hours per week.  Lone parents currently on Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment who increase their working hours to 19 or more per week can transfer to the Working Family Payment.  Lone parents who move to that payment may also apply for the Back to Work Family Dividend. 

To extend eligibility for the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment as proposed would be contrary to the policy goal of the changes to the One-Parent Family Payment scheme introduced since 2015.  Those changes were designed to tackle long-term social welfare dependency and its associated poverty risks.  This is done through a tapering of income supports and a more active engagement process offering enhanced educational, training and employment supports.

The Deputy may wish to know that there is a fund called The Student Assistance Fund that provides financial support to full or part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college.  Students can apply for the Student Assistance Fund to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties.  The Student Assistance Fund is designed to provide a source of financial support in addition to a SUSI grant.  The Student Assistance Fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.