Recommendations on Lone Parents must be enacted to combat poverty

9 Oct 2001

The numbers of lone parents living in poverty has grown by 50% over the past 20 years, according to a report from the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF). The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, which was a member of the report's project team, said the report contained excellent recommendations that must be progressed in order to reverse the trend of growing poverty among lone parents.

"Poverty among lone parents is growing; we have disproportionately low numbers of lone parents in work; the transition from welfare into work is a complex one and mainstream training does not currently meet their specific needs. This report goes to the heart of these complex matters and proposes practical solutions." said Tony Monks, INOU General Secretary.

" It is vital that the proposed Welfare to Work Colloquium under the aegis of the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs is held, with a view to establishing a Welfare to Work Unit. A specific strategy to tackle the welfare to work transition of lone parents must be adopted"

Drawing attention to the specific recommendations in the report on labour market issues, Ms Hartigan, Welfare to Work Co Ordinator said,

"Labour market programmes must be designed to suit the needs of participants, and offer them the best chance of progression into the open labour market. The recommendation that labour market programmes offer pre-training, taster courses and a strong personal development aspect are echoed in the INOU's own research on participants stated needs. The INOU will be pursuing these matters through the Standing Committee on the Labour Market.

"A substantial increase in state provided childcare places and greater flexibility in the allocation of childcare payments will be crucial to the take up rate by lone parents of training and education options."

The Report also makes a number of recommendations in relation to the adequacy of the state payments received by lone parents.

"One Parent Family Payment must be examined in light of the PPF report on Indexation and Benchmarking of Social Welfare payments, which is currently with the Cabinet. The income guidelines on Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance must be revised , and new guidelines on reasonable rent limits must be established based on current market reality."

ENDS