I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.
The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents", which I launched in March of this year, put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of childcare; improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social assistance payment for low income families with young children.
The new social assistance payment, currently being developed by officials in my Department will have the long term aim of assisting people to achieve financial independence through supporting them to enter employment – for it is employment that offers one of the most important routes out of poverty.
The new payment would introduce an element of conditionality to the receipt of the payment in the sense that payment would be conditional on activation and engagement by the recipient. Activation as referred to in the proposal, is positive in nature; it encompasses interview/advice meetings and access to education and training, thus providing people with the skills to enable them to achieve financial independence and a better life for themselves and their children. These supports would also be available to many older women at risk of poverty who are currently categorised as qualified adult dependants of husbands in receipt of social welfare income.
The discussion paper suggests that activation measures would commence when the child reaches the age of 5. Concerns have been expressed in submissions and at meetings that this could exclude lone parents from accessing supports earlier should they so wish. This matter is being further examined. While conditions are being suggested for receipt of payment, it is proposed that supports would be offered in a structured and systematic manner to the persons concerned. It is only in this context that continuing payment would be made conditional on engagement. The discussion paper also proposes the abolition of the cohabitation rule which currently prevents someone from receiving the one parent family payment if they are cohabiting with a partner.
A 5 year transitional period is proposed for the introduction of the new payment. Those currently in receipt of the one parent family payment would continue to receive that payment during this 5 year period, regardless of the age of their children. Those with qualifying children could opt to receive the new payment and benefit from the support and activation opportunities available under that payment.
Activation advice and supports would be offered to recipients during this period. After 5 years, those with children below the specified age would move to the proposed new scheme, those with no children under the specified age and still in need of income support, would move to the jobseekers allowance or another appropriate welfare payment. New applicants would immediately be placed onto the new scheme.
I fully realise that any proposed new payment cannot be introduced without co-ordinated supports and services being put in place by other Departments and Agencies. This is why the Government has instructed the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion to draw up an implementation plan to progress the non-income recommendations in the report.
Although the formal consultation process on the Government discussion paper has concluded, my officials continue to be in contact with lone parents' representative groups, whose views continue to feed in to the development of the proposals.
Once I am convinced that we have reached conclusions that are equitable, with a fully workable implementation strategy, it is my intention to bring forward proposals for legislation.
