Jim Mitchell
Ceist:44 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to review the criteria for eligibility of unmarried mothers for the lone parents allowance.
Written Answers. - Lone Parents Allowance.
The lone parents allowance scheme in common with all others is kept under continual review in the light of changing circumstances.
A significant feature of the scheme is the increase in the numbers of unmarried mothers in receipt of lone parents allowance in recent years. The numbers have risen from around 7,500 in 1982 to over 21,000 in 1991. Expenditure has increased from approximately £16 million in 1982 to over £79 million in 1991.
A significant increase in the numbers of unmarried parents have been occurring in recent years in all OECD countries, with the households involved being greatly over-represented at the bottom of the economic scale. The trend in this country is in line with what is happening elsewhere.
Clearly if these trends continue, the implications for social welfare expenditure will be very significant, particularly in the light of the increased resources required to cater for other categories of welfare recipients.
One of the issues which has arisen in the context of the ongoing review of the scheme is the desirability of encouraging unmarried mothers back into the labour market. I am examining the general question as to how the social welfare system affects the incentive to work and what measures may need to be taken to increase these incentives and I will be examining the lone parents allowance in this context.