Speaking at the Committee Stage on the Social Welfare Bill, Sinn Féin spokesperson for Social Protection John Brady TD has secured the unanimous passing of an amendment for lone parents.
Teachta Brady said:
“I am delighted that despite, initial hesitation by the Minister, my amendment securing a report on the financial and social impacts of the changes to the One Parent Family Payment has been passed.
“Initially, the Minister had hesitated on such a report as he felt it was too early to see the true impacts of such reforms. However, the reality is that we do not need to wait to see the consequences that the changes to the One Parent Family Payment have had. In fact, the consequences are already well known and well highlighted consistently.
“We know that child poverty is much more highly prevalent among one parent families with child poverty rates among children in one parent families at 22.1%. We also know that 60% deprivation is experienced by these same one parent families.
“Poverty rates alone are reason enough for such a report to be carried out but we do know there are also many more issues being experienced by lone parents.
"I have met with a number of organisations and having listened to and engaged with these organisations as well as lone parents themselves, it is clear that this report is desperately needed.
“I welcome that the Minister, along with the other members of the Social Protection Committee are in agreement that a report will be carried out and brought before the Committee within six months.
“When it comes to lone parents, who are among the most vulnerable in our society, we need action. I have made clear to the Minister that this report cannot be written to sit on a shelf, we need action on the back of this report. We need to actively work hard to make life better for our lone parents.”
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