Erin McGreehan
Ceist:151. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he is taking to support lone parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62066/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 13 November 2025
Ceisteanna (151)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department has two primary social welfare supports specifically designed to support lone parents. The One-Parent Family Payment is a means tested payment for lone parents whose youngest child is under seven, while the Jobseekers Transitional Payment is a special arrangement under the means tested Jobseekers’ Allowance for lone parents whose youngest child is between seven and 13 years old inclusive. Lone parents may also be eligible for other payments such as the Working Family Payment, Back to Work Family Dividend and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear scheme.
Budget 2026 included a range of measures that will benefit lone parents, such as:
• A €10 per week increase to the personal rate of the One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment. The increases will directly benefit some 113,000 children whose parents are in receipt of these payments.
• The largest ever increase in the Child Support Payment, which increased by €8 for children aged under 12, (a 16% increase), and €16 for children aged over 12 (a 26% increase). This change will bring the rate of the Child Support Payment to €58 for children aged under 12 and €78 for children aged over 12. Child Support Payment is payable with most primary payments, including One Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment.
• Expansion of the Back-To-School Clothing and Footwear Payment, to 2 and 3 year olds.
• A €60 increase to the Working Family Payment income thresholds. Almost two thirds of recipients of this payment are lone parent households.
• Eligibility for the Fuel Allowance is to be expanded to those in receipt of the Working Family Payment (to be implemented from March 2026, payments will be backdated to January 2026).
• The Fuel Allowance payment is to increase by €5 per week (an increase of more than 15%) to €38 per week. This increase will provide recipients with an additional €140 during the annual fuel allowance season.
• Christmas Bonus will be paid in December 2025, to almost 1.5 million customers, including those in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment.
• Other measures introduced, for example, with regards to caring and disability supports will also benefit lone parents, depending on individual family circumstances.
In addition to income supports, the Department’s employment services work with lone parents, taking their caring requirements into account, to provide information on employment supports and educational and training opportunities that may be suitable depending on their individual circumstances. The approach aims to support lone parents by reducing long-term welfare dependency, and associated poverty, among this group by focusing on their access to education, training, and other employment supports. Access to these services and the supports available is designed to enhance the person's skills-set and job-readiness, thereby assisting with their transition into the workforce, and with their subsequent attainment of financial independence.