Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
299. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the exact figure for savings made on the changes to one parent family payment in Budget 2012, broken down between employed and unemployed lone parents, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54051/12]
View answerThe number of one-parent family payment (OFP) recipients stood at 89,510 on 28 November 2012. Some 49% of OFP recipients are presently in employment.
As you are aware, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012, introduced changes to the age of the youngest child at which the payment ceases. These changes are being brought in on a phased basis between 2012 and 2015 and it is estimated will yield the following savings:
|
2012 €m |
2013 €m |
2014 €m |
2015 €m |
|
0.3 |
2.0 |
5.8 |
11.9 |
The Act also reduced the amount of earnings disregarded for the purposes of the OFP means test from €146.50 per week to €130.00 per week in 2012 – with further reductions being introduced over the following four years. The earnings disregard reduction will yield the following estimated savings:
|
2012 €m |
2013 €m |
2014 €m |
2015 €m |
2016 €m |
|
14.2 |
32.0 |
50.0 |
63.0 |
76.1 |
The savings outlined above are those estimated in Budget 2012. These apply to all recipients of the OFP. A breakdown of these figures between employed and unemployed lone parents is not available.
