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Irish Times Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Poverty a serious risk for lone parents, report finds
By Nuala Haughey, Social and Racial Affairs Correspondent


The number of single parents claiming one-parent social welfare benefits has risen sixfold in the past two decades, a new report by a Government advisory body shows.

Lone parents are at particular risk of experiencing poverty and their educational achievements and rate of participation in the labour force are low, according to the study by the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF).

Almost half of lone parents in 1997 had only primary-level education and they currently make up fewer than 2 per cent of participants in mainstream training, the report says.

About a quarter of lone parents claiming One Parent Family Payment in 1999 were in employment. This compares to Finland, where a 1997 study found that 65 per cent of lone mothers were employed.

The "Lone Parents" report, published yesterday, says "persistent barriers" remain for lone parents in accessing education, training and employment.

"Our findings show that particular supports are required for lone parents and greater levels of flexibility with regard to provision are needed if the participation rates of lone parents are to be increased to any significant effect," it says.

It points out that lone parents who marry or cohabit face a cut in welfare payments and considers options on easing regulations in this area to help them form new families or develop relationships with new partners.

On the issue of absent fathers, the report recommends setting up social support networks for young fathers and community-based programmes on parent/child communication.

It says housing policy should take account of absent fathers who have overnight access to their children and father-children facilities should be provided within local communities for fathers who do not have suitable accommodation.

The report makes a series of recommendations on enhancing public services to lone parents and improving their access to education, training and employment.

These include appointing "family service workers" within the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs; developing peer support networks; introducing more family-friendly arrangements and childcare facilities; and greater integration between the income tax and social welfare system to help lone parents participate in the labour market.

The report shows that the numbers of people in receipt of a One Parent Family Payment increased from 12,551 in 1981 to 73,282 in 2001.

The numbers of households headed by lone parents rose from 99,975 in 1986 to 127,488 in 1996. In 1986, lone-parent households accounted for 10 per cent of all private households while in 1996 this figure rose to 11.2 per cent.

The NESF's chairwoman, Dr Maureen Gaffney, said the report outlined the direction policy needs to take so that women, their partners and babies can have lives which are not just adequate, but dignified.

"What this report is doing is presenting the non-glamorous end of the baby business and focusing on the pretty grim reality that being a lone parent dependent on social welfare is for the vast majority of young women in that position," she said.

"Not only are they at risk of consistent poverty, but because of a whole range of barriers built into the system their participation rate in the labour market and education system is low."

The Government said it welcomed the report's publication while work is continuing on a revised National Anti-Poverty Strategy, due to be published next month.

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