Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:118 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the definition of family which is being used in her recently announced family policy initiative. [13511/03]
Written Answers. - Family Support Services.
The Government is committed to protecting the family through political, economic, social and other measures which will support the stability of the family. A range of family income support programmes are provided by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. These include child benefit, widow/er's payments, payments for families who are out of work through illness or unemployment, one-parent family payment for parents raising children alone, family income supplement and provision for carers. These support programmes have been developed over the years to respond to the different personal circumstances which families may experience during their life cycles. The overall objective is to ensure that individuals and families have recourse to income support for themselves and their families in times of need.
The Government's policy focus in relation to families is on support for parents and their children in an inclusive way and to make families central to policy making and the delivery of services. While there is no formal definition as to what constitutes a family for this purpose, the promotion of continuity and stability in family life, which is particularly important for children, is a central feature of the policy approach. The approach recognises that the best interests of children are of paramount concern and that a child's basic need for security and stability can be met in a variety of family situations.
I am at present undertaking a programme of public consultation to hear the views of representative family members, especially parents, organisations who work with families and public representatives, about the challenges families are currently facing. I wish to hear at first hand how effective the services provided by the statutory and community and voluntary sectors are in helping them meet these challenges and in strengthening family well being so that any necessary policy changes can be put in place.
Question No. 119 answered with Question No. 101.
Questions Nos. 120 and 121 answered with Question No. 93.