Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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94. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will increase the one-parent family payment. [24299/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I was pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion. I am very mindful that lone parents are a group at risk of poverty and for that reason I was particularly pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023, which benefit lone parents.

The One-Parent Family Payment rate increased by €12, from €208 to €220 per week from January 2023. In addition, the rate of Increase for a Qualified Child increased by €2 to €42 per week in respect of a qualified child under age 12, and by €2 to €50 per week in respect of a qualified child aged 12 or over.

Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment were amongst those who received a double weekly payment in October as well as the Christmas bonus double payment in December. Like all families with children, lone parents received a double payment of Child Benefit last November. Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will have also received three fuel lump sums last year, and those receiving the Working Family Payment would have received a €500 lump sum last November and a higher rate of the payment from January as the income thresholds on that scheme were increased.

Just last month those in receipt of the One-Parent Family payment would have received a €200 cost of living payment. Further measures are in train - including a further Child Benefit payment of €100 will be payable in early June and there will also be an additional €100 available as part of Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance again this year, as well as a further extension of the Hot School Meals programme.

Any further changes to scheme payment rates would need to be considered in an overall budgetary context.