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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 3

Written Answers. - Family Support Services.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

60 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the main findings of the report, "Parenting in Ireland: A Study of Parenting Support Needs", prepared by the Centre of Social and Educational Research in Dublin Institute of Technology; if the report shows that one in 20 parents worry about being able to put food on the table for their children; the steps he intends to take to address the serious problems facing parents on low incomes addressed in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26825/01]

The report, Supporting Parenting: a Study of Parents' Support Needs, was undertaken by the Centre for Social and Educational Research in the Dublin Institute of Technology, Rathmines under my Department's families research programme I established in 1999 to support innovative, original research in the field of family policy and family services. The study has only recently been finalised and submitted to my Department. It is being prepared for publication and I propose to officially launch it on 27 November, after which date it will be widely circulated to members of the Oireachtas, policy makers, Departments, the social partners, interest groups and voluntary and community groups with an interest in family matters.

The study involved 1000 parents, 800 mothers and 200 fathers, with diverse economic, social and family backgrounds. A number of focus groups with children were conducted as part of the study. The result is a comprehensive and in-depth study of parents' perspectives on their parenting role and the supports available to them within their own family network, in their local community environment and through family support services such as antenatal classes, public health nurses, local family and community resource centres and other community supports. The study contains analyses of the interest shown by parents in parenting education and classes, the factors which influence them in their parenting styles, their concerns about the physical and parental care of their children and both parents' and children's views about the enjoyable aspects of parenting relationships. The principal concerns identified by parents related to child safety, speedy access to medical services and access to quality child care. Of the parents surveyed 142 were concerned about being able to provide enough food for their children. The study points to the correlation between this concern and living on low income.

The parents surveyed identified a wide range of supports for themselves and their children. These include play, leisure and recreation facilities, financial support with childcare expenses and for stay-at-home parents and additional support with day-to-day expenses for parents on lower incomes to assist with school costs and to facilitate parents' involvement in education and training. Access to childcare and after-school care and appropriate services for lone mothers with very young children as well as better access to information about what is available were also identified as important parenting supports.

The report makes a number of recommendations for improved service planning and delivery for parents based on the conclusions of the study. The establishment of the Family Support Agency is highlighted as providing a key mechanism to respond to the challenges of providing co-ordinated responses to the varied nature of families' support needs. Many of the issues raised by parents surveyed in the study have been singled out for attention as part of the Government's Families First approach designed to make the promotion of family well-being central to policy. Investment in child benefit is a priority for this Government as a means of easing the financial costs of rearing children. Record increases in child benefit rates over the past two years and planned for next year will bring expenditure to over £900 million or 1.14 billion in 2001 and to £1.5 billion or 1.9 billion in a full year by 2003.
Significant improvements in the family income supplement scheme together with improvements in basic personal tax allowances have particularly benefited families rearing children on low wages. There have been major improvements in the one-parent family payment scheme, in childcare provision and in access for lone parents to training and employment opportunities. The Family Resource Centre programme has been radically expanded from ten centres in 1997 to 75 centres either up and running or approved for inclusion in the programme. There has been record investment in marriage and family counselling services, in the introduction of a nationwide family mediation service and in the development of improved information services for families.
The findings of the study, Supporting Parenting: a Study of Parents' Support Needs, will contribute to the further development of these services in line with Government commitments and particularly in the context of the development of the responsibilities of the new Family Support Agency.
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