asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of men in the State who would qualify for a single parent allowance on the same basis as women, if such a scheme were introduced.
62.
Written Answers. - Dependent Children.
61.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of widowed men caring for dependent children.
It is proposed to take questions No. 61 and 62 together.
The Social Welfare Bill, 1989, recently published, includes provision for new social assistance arrangements for widowers and deserted husbands with children. The conditions applying under these arrangements will be the same as those applying to widows and deserted wives with children under the widow's non-contributory pension and deserted wife's allowance schemes.
There is no detailed breakdown of the numbers of male single parents in the country but data from the labour force survey 1987, shows that there are approximately 13,300 separated or widowed men who are at work and some 10,800 who are unemployed, on home duties or permanently incapacitated. It is tentatively estimated that some 5,500 widowers and deserted husbands will qualify under the arrangements proposed in the Bill.
Details as to the number of widowers caring for dependent children are not available.