by Kathy Masterson
LIMERICK opposition party representatives have slammed the recent cuts to the lone parent allowance, saying that some parents stand to lose €80 per week.
Under the changes that came into effect last week, parents of children aged seven and older will no longer be entitled to the one-parent family payment and will instead switch to jobseekers allowance.
Limerick TD and Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Social Protection Willie O’Dea said the move would make 10,000 families, who are already living in or near poverty, “substantially worse off ”.
He added that the Government’s defence of its position “is becoming risible”.
Speaking in the Dáil this week, Deputy O’Dea commented: “Yesterday, I was speaking to a lone parent in my constituency. She has one child and does not qualify for the family income dividend because she started work before the appropriate date. She is working 20 hours per week for €10 per hour, which is just above the minimum wage. She will lose €80.50 per week from next Monday.
He also noted that figures compiled by lone parents’ organisation SPARK show that a lone parent with one child and working 20 hours per week will, even if he or she qualifies for the family income dividend, lose €52 per week.
“Next year that will go up to €67 per week and the following year it will go up to €80.50 per week because the family income dividend is only temporary,” he continued.
A group of Sinn Féin and Anti-Austerity Alliance councillors joined local lone parents at a protest against the cuts outside Labour Minister Jan O’Sullivan’s office on Hartstonge St this week.
Cllr Cian Prendiville (AAA) described the cuts as “brutal”.
He added: “The reality is the Irish government only invest 0.2 per cent of GDP on childcare and early education services, compared to say 1.4 per cent in Denmark. It is a huge shame on Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour that they have all stood over this disgraceful situation.”
Cllr Maurice Quinlivan (SF) condemned the move as a Labour party decision “that would have Connolly spinning in his grave”.
“There are an estimated 12,000 families who will now face significant cuts of up to €86 per week.
“As a result of Labour policy, lone parents and their children will face greater poverty, insecurity, and deprivation. I can only imagine what rank and file Labour party supporters in Limerick must make of Jan O’Sullivan’s decision to endorse this policy across the public airwaves in the last week. It puts them somewhere to the right of Renua on the political spectrum, and that’s saying something,” he said.
