Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Written Answers. - Child Minding Facilities.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

171 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will rescind social welfare circular 13.93 which denies supplementary welfare allowance towards the provision of child-minding facilities for lone parents who are participating in the various second chance education schemes. [325/94]

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

In general, health boards do not provide assistance towards the cost of child-minding facilities for lone parents.

I have made special arrangements this year under the lone parents allowance scheme to assist lone parents with the cost of child minding. From July 1994, up to £30 per week of a working lone parents earnings is disregarded in assessing means for lone parents allowance. In addition, child-minding — travel expenses of up to £50 per week and PRSI contributions are disregarded when calculating a working parent's entitlement to lone parents allowance and half of the remaining earnings are assessed. For example, a lone parent with earnings of £100 per week, who avails of the above disregards can qualify for a lone parents allowance of £70.20 in addition in these earnings.

The purpose of circular 13/93 was to inform health boards of the assistance available from voluntary organisations to lone parents in second chance education schemes and to indicate that payment of supplementary welfare would not be appropriate in these cases.

I am particularly anxious to promote opportunities for lone parents to avail of education opportunities. In 1993, grants totalling £117,000 were given by my Department to 35 voluntary and community organisations around the country for projects aimed at helping lone parents to get back into the workforce or participate in second chance education. Some of the projects funded that year included the provision of crêche facilities for young mothers attending educational courses. This year a sum of £200,000 has been allocated for this purpose.