Major reforms planned to assist lone parents – Brennan

The Minister for Social Affairs said today that big changes were being planned for the system that assists single parents.

Seamus Brennan said that currently many lone parents were locked in a poverty trap.

Under the reforms, lone parents on state support will no longer be prevented from living with their partners.

Minister Brennan, who met with interest groups in Dublin today, said they made their goals clear.

“One message that's clear from today’s conference is that we can't continue a situation where they have to passively depend on welfare,” he said.

“We're trying to move them to a position where the funds they get from the state are enabling funds that enable them to move to education, training and jobs and new relationships - that's what we're trying to do.”