Barry Ward
Ceist:
250. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views of the adequacy of support services available to single mothers compared with two-parent families, particularly during pregnancy and the early months of their child's life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12942/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy on this matter as soon as possible.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.
There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The Government is committed to supporting workers, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their child during their earliest years. The Department of Children, Equality and Disability also engages with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, on a range of parenting supports.
Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child, as required by the EU Work Life Balance Directive. It is important to note that the entitlement under the 2019 Act is for each parent in their own right and is not an allocation per family. The Act was drafted to take account of the broad complexion of family life, including one parent families, and allows for an entitlement for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the parent. Parents do not have to cohabit to be eligible for the entitlement. However, the leave is non-transferable to ensure that fathers as well as mothers are supported in their caring roles and to support women's equal labour market participation. The principle of non-transferability is also required by the EU Work-Life Balance Directive because of the importance of ensuring that the provision of family leave does not serve to disadvantage mothers participating in the labour market. Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis'.
It should be noted that the legislation only sets out the minimum entitlement to parental leave. Depending on an individual’s contract of employment, they may have more extensive rights to parental leave, as employers have the option to offer more than the entitlement set out in the legislation. The Government is acutely aware of the additional challenges faced by one-parent families and their greater risk of poverty and they will continue to address the challenges through taxation and welfare systems and the range of services provided. There is also a commitment in the Programme for Government 2025, ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’, to continue to prioritise and enhance supports for lone parents. The One-Parent Family Payment, which is a provision of the Department of Social Protection, is a payment for parents under 66 who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under 7. Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Policy on family leave entitlements is also mindful of the impact of the leaves on employers. The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine the possible extension of parent's leave and benefit and additional flexibilities. The first Action Plan for the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 is currently in development and any changes to available supports for one-parent families will be considered in this context.
Tusla’s Parenting Support Strategy
The strategic direction for Tusla’s parenting support is directed by the Tusla Parenting Support Strategy 2022–2027 which adopts a universalist approach to supporting all parents. It is focused on the provision of quality information, raising awareness, evidence informed and needs led parenting supports.
The Strategy identified six key themes:
A wide range of tailored supports to meet the needs of diverse family types and those facing particular challenges.
Public and practitioner awareness.
Information for parents and practitioners.
Promoting Integration and collaboration.
Training.
Evidence-informed practice.
Under Theme 1 of the strategy, Tusla recognises that certain diverse family forms including lone-parent families require more targeted and specialised supports.
Parenting Support as part of the broader remit of family support
Within Tusla, parenting support is a core component of the broader family support service. In 2024, Tusla allocated €181 million in funding to more than 451 commissioned services, which included parenting support. A wide range of parenting supports is available to parents, delivered through Family Support and Child Protection and Welfare systems and processes. These include Meitheal, 114 Child and Family Support Networks, 126 Family Resource Centres, 27 Children and Young People’s Services Committees, 12 Area-Based Childhood (ABC) initiatives, and the 451 community and voluntary organisations funded by Tusla (Tusla Annual Report, 2024).
Examples of specific parenting supports include home visiting services, the Young Parent Support Programme, one-to-one parenting interventions, group-based support (including evidence-based parenting programmes such as Incredible Years, Circles of Security, Baby Massage, Parents Plus, Parenting Under Pressure etc.), parent and toddler groups, facilitated parent peer support groups etc.
National Home Visiting Programme
Since 2024, Tusla, with the support of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, has increased service capacity for parents both in ante-natal and the early childhood years under the establishment of the National Home Visiting Programme. Established under the Children’s Fund (2024–2028), it aims to deliver a consistent, evidence-based approach to home visiting for families during pregnancy and early childhood. The Programme seeks to increase availability and accessibility to early childhood home visiting support to those who will benefit most, especially lone parents and parents from the Traveller community. It focuses on areas of highest disadvantage, with high numbers of children in early childhood with little to no access to Home Visiting in their communities. The Programmes focus on promoting infant and child health, fostering educational development and school readiness, promoting parental wellbeing, confidence, and connectivity with their community, and helping to prevent child abuse and neglect.
ESF + Young Parent Support Programme and IPAS Family Support Practitioners
The Young Parent Support Programme has also increased its reach across the country expanding from 11 YPSP sites to 17 sites, with the additional 6 sites receiving Government of Ireland and EU funding through EIST ESF+. The ESF+ project seeks to provide universal access to a Young Parent Support Programme for all young parents in Ireland and make the service available to all parents up to the age of 25 (previously this service was only available to those aged up to 20 years of age).
Tailored and specialised supports are also provided through the 20 IPAS Family Support Practitioners. Families in state accommodation experience the most complex trauma on leaving their birth country to be living in Ireland. The dedicated role provides families living in state provided accommodation with an entry point into an integrated referral pathway for family support, through a multiagency network approach.
Parenting Support Information
Parenting support information can also be accessed online, through the Parenting 24/7 website which focuses on the seven key messages and two e-learning modules, ‘Relationship Are Key’ and the upcoming ‘Positive Parenting’. The nationwide Parent Support Champion Initiative continues to provide a variety of webinars and workshops tailored to local parent need.
I hope that you find this information helpful.
