Federation backs minister on one-family payment

THE NATIONAL Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents has backed the Minister for Social Welfare’s controversial statement that the current one-family payment is not working.

Treoir CEO Margaret Dromey has said that all the evidence shows that “lone parents are more likely than other families to experience poverty, have no incentive to take up full-time employment and, indeed, to form relationships”.

“Even where good relationships exist, penalties are incurred as a result of cohabiting. A policy debate on the issue needs to take place. A review of the social welfare system for lone parents is essential and Treoir would welcome engaging in the discussion. Treoir has been calling for many years for the removal of the ban on cohabitation, in the interest of children,” she said.