Lone parents group warns of protests over CE scheme cuts

A group representing lone parents has said protest marches are likely to continue in opposition to Budget measures which come into effect from today.

Any new participants of the community employment scheme will see their allowance cut to €20 per week.

The CE scheme has been in place for many years, allowing lone parents who are on social welfare an additional payment if they take up training placements in different organisations.

Spokesperson for lone parent support group One Family, Karen Kiernan, said lone parents are outraged over the move and are likely to protest.

Ms Kiernan said: "The impact of the cuts are going to be that some people are not going to be able to afford to do CE, so they are not going to get that work experience or do that training and the community organisations and the people that they support are also going to lose out.

"So all round it's a lose-lose and we don't see a very strong, clear alternative being put in place."