Burton to examine certain cases in lone parents cuts plan

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has agreed to look at families that may be affected in the extreme by upcoming cuts to the One Parent Family Payment.

The Tánaiste faced questions from Labour Party TDs and senators last night as families claimed lone parents face losses of up to €80 a week under the changes.

Lone parents say cuts to support payments coming down the line will force them out of employment and education, and result in greater child poverty.

Support groups say the rules will hit tens of thousands of families.

The Coalition says the measure will prevent parents falling into a poverty trap and should encourage single mothers or fathers to go back to work.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil the changes were being introduced by Ms Burton to reduce long-term welfare dependency.

Fianna Fáil ridiculed his claim the move has been welcomed by lone parents, pointing out that some 32,000 people will lose between €50 and €80 a week as a result.

During a separate Oireachtas education committee hearing, lone parents called on the Coalition to halt the reforms and introduce more childcare support, as was promised.

Louise Bayliss of SPARK, a campaign group opposed to the cuts

, said: “Many lone parents believe they will be forced out of employment or education. This will lead to increased social welfare dependency, higher costs to the State, and further increases in child deprivation and poverty.”

Department officials at the meeting admitted that people would be down money when the changes are introduced in July and also said that better childcare support was needed.

The issue was also raised at the Labour parliamentary party meeting last night.

Sources said Ms Burton agreed to examine cases facing severe cuts in July and that TDs and senators will receive a special briefing on the changes next week. Concerns include how lone parents who are carers may be affected.

“Joan said if there are specific anomalies, we’ll look at them. It’s highly technical,” one source said.

Ms Burton’s spokesman last night said: “These reforms aim to provide the necessary supports to lone parents to help them to access the department’s range of education, training, and employment programmes, to develop their skills set, and ultimately to secure employment, which is the most effective guarantor against poverty.”