Minister must do a U-Turn – Crowe

Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe TD, has today called on Minister Joan Burton to do a u-turn review on her changes to the One-Parent Family Payment.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“The changes due to be implemented today to the One-Parent Family Payment will as currently constructed further marginalise many lone parents. We know from the Government’s own figures that One-parent families are the poorest type of families in Ireland.

“Minister Burton is on record as saying that she would not introduce these changes unless she got an enhanced ‘credible and bankable commitment on the delivery of a system of childcare’.

“Clearly this commitment has not been delivered nor are there any plans for the foreseeable future for the introduction of such a badly needed support system.

“For many One Parent Families school child care is either non-existent or far too expensive.

“60,000 people will be directly effected next year and a lot of them will be down money and many of them are poor families who are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

“It’s inevitable under this system that the changes will drive some people into greater poverty and will force them to give up their part time work.

“It’s a fact that they don’t have the childcare, the afterschool care, the education training or support that many other families have.

“It is also misleading and disingenuous for Minister Burton to suggest that a changeover from One-Parent Family Payment to Jobseeker’s Allowance will mean a minimal disruption to the families affected. The One-Parent Family Payment was supposedly designed to enhance the caring responsibilities of the recipient and the Jobseeker’s Allowance route does fulfill that role.

“The Minister if she is to reform this sector needs to do a u-turn and refocus again on delivering a credible inclusive and cost efficient childcare system that will benefit struggling One Parent families.”