Vol. 541 No. 2
796 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the social welfare system discriminates in favour of lone parents in any respect; if he will consider the issue of equality between all social welfare claimants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21539/01]
The one parent family payment or OFP is my Department's main support payment for lone parents including those who are unmarried, separated or divorced and a small number of widowed people with dependent children who do not qualify for the widow/ers contributory pension. In common with other social assistance schemes the payment is means-tested in order to ensure that available resources are targeted at those who are most in need. The rate of payment of the OFP is £85.50 per week with an increase of £15.20 per week for each qualified child. The personal rate of payment is the same as most other social assistance payments. The child dependent allowance is higher than that paid under some schemes but not as high as others, with overall rates paid under under the social welfare system ranging from £13.20 to £17 per week.
Lone parents are recognised as one of the groups in our society who are most at risk of poverty. It is also generally accepted that the most effective route out of poverty is through paid employment. Because of their situation lone parents can face particular difficulties and expenses in participating in training or taking up employment. Accordingly, the OFP means test contains concessions, not available under other schemes, in relation to earned income. An OFP recipient may earn up to £115.38 per week without affecting her-his payment with 50% of earnings from £115.38 to £230.76 assesed as means. These concessions recognise the particular difficulties faced by lone parents in accessing training-employment and are designed to encourage them to consider employment as an alternative to long-term welfare dependency.
Married and cohabiting couples are also, when necessary, supported through the social welfare system. Women or men who have withdrawn from the labour force and who are engaged on home duties are provided for in the social welfare system through the payment of qualified adult allowances where their spouse-partner is in receipt of a social welfare payment. This allowance is paid at less than the personal rate to take account of the economies of scale where people live together. In accordance with research undertaken by the ESRI for the report of the working group examining the treatment of married, cohabiting and one-parent families under the tax and social welfare codes the Government is committed to raising these allowances to 70% of the full personal rate.
