Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:102 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has received the fourth periodic report of the NESF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33365/04]
View answerWednesday, 15 December 2004
Questions (95)
Written answers
The fourth periodic report of the NESF deals with work that was published by the NESF over the period 2001-03 and attempts to assess the impact of this on Government policies and programmes. Of particular interest to my Department is the review of lone parent report no. 20 which was published in late 2001.
I am in the process of drawing up a strategy for families in a changing society and a key element of this strategy will relate to the issues and challenges faced by those parenting alone. I am also committed to reviewing the income support arrangements for lone parents in light of reports and emerging analysis and the NESF report is informing this review. A number of the developments in these areas are highlighted by the NESF in the review.
Progress has been made in the localisation of new claims for the one parent family payment to the local offices of my Department. By the end of this year some 50% of new claims will be made at local offices and the roll out of the localisation project is scheduled to continue in 2005.
Similarly, I am pleased to see the welcome given to the information guide for lone parents published by my Department, Comhairle and Treoir which is made available to all lone parent claimants. This initiative substantially addresses many of the information needs of those parenting alone and I am hoping to provide additional information through a new magazine type initiative next year.
The NESF was critical of changes to the one parent family payment scheme, particularly in relation to the transitional arrangements whereby a lone parent who exceeded the earning threshold retained 50% of his or her previous payment for a further 12 months. This transitional payment was discontinued from 19 January 2004.
In reviewing the adjustments which were made in last year's budget, I took particular account of the statistics which show that lone parent families are particularly at risk of poverty. Ireland has one of the highest proportions of lone parent families within the EU. Almost a quarter of such households live in consistent poverty and over 40% of such families are deemed to be at risk of poverty.
It is generally accepted that one of the most effective routes out of poverty for people in the active age groups is through paid employment. However, Ireland has a relatively low proportion of lone parents in employment, compared to other developed countries. In light of this, I decided to re-introduce the transitional half-rate payment for a period of six months where earnings exceed the upper threshold of €293 per week. The overall transitional arrangements will be further examined in the context of the review of the income support arrangements for lone parents which I have already mentioned.
The NESF has also expressed disappointment with regard to the extent to which the needs of non-resident fathers are being addressed and has recommended that greater policy priority should be given to supporting those who have ongoing and regular contact with their children. This year my Department has been instrumental in ensuring that there has been a greater focus on the issue of family role of fathers, particularly those fathers who are non-resident. Under the special award scheme for organisations to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the UN International Year of the Family support was given to the unmarried and separated fathers of Ireland in running a national conference on fathers.
Support was also given to Amen to run a conference focusing on being a father, particularly a non-resident father at Christmas. Under the families research programme which was established by my Department two pieces of research on men were published. The report, Young men on the Margins, commissioned by the Katherine Howard foundation focused on young homeless men who have little or no participation in family life, community life or employment.
A more recent publication, Strengthening Families through Vulnerable Fathers, was produced by Professor Harry Ferguson and Fergus Hogan. This latter publication focuses on vulnerable fathers and the professionals who worked with them. The research highlighted how fathers are often excluded from child care and family support work and challenges society to create and foster an inclusive approach which encourages effective engagement and positive inclusion of fathers.
These publications will be fully taken into account in the context of the strategy on families in a changing society currently being prepared. Key elements of this strategy will focus on the issue of those parenting alone and the role of fathers in family life, especially non-resident fathers. The NESF report is also being taken into account in drawing up the strategy which should be completed in the first half of 2005.