Jim Higgins
Question:20 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on the increasing number of family break-ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Family Break-ups.
There has been a significant increase in the number of family break-ups in Ireland over recent years. As far as the social welfare system is concerned there is a number of social welfare schemes specifically for dealing with the financial consequences of such break-ups for the family and, in particular, the children involved. These include the deserted wife's allowance and the deserted wife's benefit which were introduced in the early seventies.
In the 1989 Social Welfare Act, I introduced the widower's non-contributory pension and the deserted husband's allowance and in 1990 I introduced the lone parent's allowance which made provision for the various categories of lone parents, including both separated and deserted fathers.
All the schemes in my Department are kept under review in the light of changing circumstances. The introduction of divorce legislation will clearly have implications for social welfare arrangements for families who break up and I will be considering what modifications of existing schemes may be necessary in that context.