Minister: work offers needed for lone parents

LONE parents should be encouraged into the workforce by removing stigmas and improving childcare supports, it was claimed yesterday.

Some 86,000 single mothers and fathers rely on Government supports to raise children. They must be offered genuine choices for job opportunities and access to education, Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan said in Limerick yesterday.

Mr Brennan said he was determined to get lone parents into work.

Mr Brennan said central to delivering a better standard of living for lone parents and their children were policies directed towards breaking down existing obstacles and transforming lives through targeted supports and enlightened social policies.

He was speaking at the national launch of “Options & Opportunities”, a guide for lone parents who receive One Parent Family Payments and other supports.

The guide provides an insight into the difficulties, hopes and aspirations of lone parents. It also has advice on education, employment options, money and budgeting advice and family support services.

Launching the guide in Southill, Mr Brennan said: “It is time in this 21st century Ireland that we started to wipe away increasingly stale, restrictive social policies and set about opening up genuine choices and opportunities for lone parents.”

He said his department is concluding a review of the income support arrangements for lone parents.

A government steering group will report shortly on specific policy areas and how they impact on employment opportunities and family circumstances.

Mr Brennan said: “Lone parents have the added responsibility of providing care for their children as well as more often being the sole bread winner. As a result fewer than half of lone parents are in paid jobs.”

He said what is particularly worrying is the high percentage of one parent families categorised as “at risk of poverty” despite Ireland enjoying a surging economy.

He added: It is well established fact that one of the best routes out of poverty for lone parents is through paid employment.”

Frances Byrne, director of the One Parent Exchange Network, warned: “The social welfare system is riddled with poverty traps and we are hopeful that welfare to work is not just a mantra. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.”

“Lone parents have to sit down and do calculations to figure out is it worthwhile working. The minister has to address that.”

85% of Ireland’s 154,000 lone parents are women.