Group urges Tánaiste to reverse cuts to One Parent Family payment

An organisation which represents one parent families says changes in social welfare supports this summer will put people out of work.

The group - Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids - is urging the Tánaiste Joan Burton to row back on reforms of the One Parent Family payment.

Ms Burton says the changes, due to kick in on July 2, are activation measures to encourage more people into the work place.

SPARK is to host a protest outside Leinster House this Wednesday against the plans, and spokesperson Louise Bayliss says it is a retrograde measure.

She said: "There's never been a more gendered cut in the State, from the fact that 98% of those affected are women.

"There's never been a more economically biased cut, in that the poorest families are the ones to be affected as well.

"We are asking anybody that stands for equality and justice to come out and join us on the day."