Budget Fails to Address Child Poverty in Poorest Families

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National one-parent family organisation One Family today were disappointed with the dismal increase in the top-up payment targeted at those with children dependent on social welfare – the first increase to the Child Dependent Allowance (CDA) for 12 years.

Commenting on the increase Candy Murphy, One Family’s Policy Manager said ‘while we welcome a move away from an exclusive focus on general Child Benefit to one which specifically targets the families most in need we are concerned about the lack of real difference this will make. The nature of the increase means that children in one-parent families who are the poorest family type, will only receive a paltry €2.70 increase in Child Dependent Allowance per week. We are also disappointed that the Budget does not include a top-up for all low-income families. The long-term key to breaking the cycle of poverty is a targeted top-up payment for all low-income families, irrespective of whether they are claiming social welfare or working in low-paid employment.’

The additional support for low-income families with school going children in the form of increases in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is welcome. However, the low take up rates for this and the Family Income Supplement mean that this support will fail to reach many of the families who need it most. Such payments should be made automatically to all families who are entitled to them.

One Family are disappointed that this Budget once again failed to recognise that supports are vitally needed for families going through separation and divorce. The organisation had asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to make provision for the establishment of a number of pilot child and family centres to provide information and support to the families and children experiencing such a difficult time.

‘While we welcome individual moves such as the long-awaited increase to the top-up payment for families dependent on social welfare’, said Ms Murphy, ‘we are disappointed that this Budget fails to present a coherent strategy to address the interlinking reality of family change and financial hardship facing many one-parent families in Ireland.’

Download a copy of One Family’s Pre-Budget Submission here or call 01 662 9212

Budget must not forget poorest families

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National one-parent family organisation One Family today called on the Government not to forget that in a time when the coffers are full, many one-parent families continue to struggle in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Commenting on tomorrow’s Budget, One Family’s Policy & Campaigns Manager, Candy Murphy stated that ‘poverty is no longer an issue of there not being enough to go around, it is a denial of basic human rights. While overall poverty levels have decreased marginally one-parent families were almost a third more likely to have been without heating during 2005, than in 2004, and the number of one-parent families unable to afford a warm waterproof coat almost doubled during that time (EU-SILC, 2005).’

This Budget looks to be focusing on issues of stamp duty and higher-level taxation, rather than focusing on the poorest families and children. ‘In order to lift vulnerable families and children in Ireland out of consistent poverty’, Ms Murphy continued, ‘the Government must provide a coherent package of targeted supports for one-parent families and other low-income families. The key to breaking the cycle of poverty is a targeted top-up payment for all low-income families, irrespective of whether they are claiming social welfare or working in low-paid employment. As this is unlikely to be part of tomorrow’s Budget, it is vital that the Child Dependent Allowance, which is the top-up payment currently available to families on social welfare, is increased to €40 a week if it is to have any real effect on the poverty experienced by many one-parent families.’

One Family are also hoping to see the significant increases in the One Parent Family Payment, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowances, the Fuel Allowance and the Family Income Supplement, as well as free medical cards for all children.

Budget 2007 must also address vital issues for families, including:

* providing adequate supports to assist families experiencing family breakdown and new family formation;
* recognising and supporting the role of parenting and shared parenting in one-parent families; and
* commissioning research on the rights and needs of non-marital families.

Download a copy of the One Family Pre-Budget Submission here or call 01 662 9212

ENDS

For further information or a copy of the full submission contact:
Ruth Coleman, Communications Manager 01 662 9212/086 174 2315
Candy Murphy, Policy & Campaigns Manager 01 662 9212

Santy Bagel Helps One-Parent Families: Vital Christmas Helpline Launched

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One-parent family organisation One Family is today delighted to announce a new partnership with itsa bagel. During December, 50 cent from every Santy Bagel sold in the four itsa bagel Dublin stores will go towards funding a special helpline service to support one-parent families over the difficult holiday period. Speaking at the launch of the helpline, Peaches Kemp, itsa bagel co-owner said ‘we are delighted to be working with One Family to reach out to families in need at Christmas. At such a happy time of year it is too easy to forget that Christmas is not always a good time for everyone. One Family are providing a vital lifeline for many families who would otherwise struggle alone during the holidays.’

itsa bagel will also be extending the challenge to its customers, who will be asked to match the itsa bagel donation with a 50 cent donation of their own.

Commenting on the new partnership and the need for such a dedicated service for one-parent families, One Family Director, Karen Kiernan, said that ‘Christmas can be a wonderful time of celebration, yet it can also be a time of enormous stress for many families. Financial strain, complicated access arrangements and strained relationships can leave many parents feeling anxious and exhausted. We are very excited to work with a partner with such a strong sense of corporate social responsibility. The unique askonefamily National Christmas Helpline will provide practical support and a listening ear for many families going through crisis and hardship this Christmas.’

askonefamily National Christmas Helpline
The National Helpline for all members of all one-parent families.
1890 66 22 12
Christmas opening hours:
10am–3pm Monday–Friday, 1–22 and 27–29 December

Email: support@onefamily.ie

In addition to providing support via the helpline, One Family has also produced a Christmas Survival Guide for One-Parent Families. The Guide is available by contacting One Family on 01 6629212 or click here

It includes practical information on dealing with issues such as financial pressures and family conflict, as well as handy tips for Christmas. itsabagel will also be distributing two One Family postcards with advice on dealing with family conflict and coping when you have to spend all or part of the holidays away from your children.

Human rights being denied in Ireland today – One Family launches human rights publication

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One-parent family organisation One Family today calls on Government to ensure that one-parent families are no longer denied many of their basic human rights.

Speaking at the launch of their new publication, Human Rights and One-Parent Families, One Family Director, Karen Kiernan, said that ‘we tend to think of human rights as something that is denied to people in other, less affluent countries, but the stark reality is that many families in Ireland are denied their basic human rights. Human rights are more than just political, and many one-parent families in Ireland suffer from a lack of basic legal, economic and social rights. The Constitution’ she continues, ‘underpins such inequalities in its failure to recognise the rights of non-marital families and children.’

Human rights are the key to ensuring an equitable and fair future for everyone in Ireland. ‘As individuals and a society we must take ownership of human rights and no longer leave it in the preserve of legal experts. The lack of basic human rights experienced by one-parent families is reflected in such families being three times more likely to live in poverty, having lower educational levels and experiencing real difficulties accessing housing and other services. Poverty is not a simple issue of there not being enough to go around, it is a denial of basic human rights’, said Candy Murphy, One Family’s Policy & Campaigns Manager.

One Family are launching Human Rights and One-Parent Families, to dispel the myth that human rights is an issue best left to legal experts. The booklet is designed to empower those working with one-parent families to lobby for real change and to advance the rights of one-parent families, and indeed, everyone in Ireland. One Family are delighted to have the booklet launched by Dr Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission.

As a specialist family support organisation with nearly 35 years experience of working with one-parent families, One Family believes that Government should embrace human rights and the potential it has to better the lives of everyone in Ireland.

‘It has been proved time and again that investment in change leads to a reduction in the long-term costs of supporting the more marginalised and vulnerable groups in society’ said Ms Murphy. ‘Investment in early childhood care and education is a perfect example of how addressing people’s rights at the outset leads to a more positive outcome for everyone, providing people with the tools to create a better future for themselves and their children, and to contribute more effectively to society.’

ENDS
For further information contact:
Ruth Coleman 01 662 9212/086 174 2315 or Karen Kiernan 01 662 9212/086 850 9191

NOTES TO EDITORS

The booklet Human Rights and One-Parent Families is an easy-to-read introduction to human rights and how they can be used to advance the rights of one-parent families in Ireland.
Foreword written by Mary Robinson
Copies of the booklet are available free by calling 01 662 9212 or a PDF can be downloaded here.

Families Must be at the Heart of Government Policy

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National one-parent family organisation One Family today called on Minister Brennan as the minister with responsibility for families, to place families at the heart of Government policy. Speaking at the Pre-Budget Forum, One Family’s Policy and Campaigns Manager, Candy Murphy said that ‘policies need to look at the family as a whole and recognise the diversity of roles played by those living in one-parent families – such as parenting, other caring responsibilities, the development of skills and qualifications, and the opportunity to participate in employment and wider society.’

‘It is especially important,’ she continued, ‘that families are appropriately supported during and following relationship breakdown and new family formation. In particular, given increasing concern in society about shared access to children and other legal issues affecting families, One Family calls for the establishment of family law and children’s centres to provide information and support services to such families.’

Setting out ten steps to achieving equality for all families, One Family also highlighted the importance of targeting State funds at children in poverty through increases in the Child Dependent Allowance and Back to School and Clothing & Footwear Allowances. Ms Murphy said that ‘at a time when State coffers are full, the Government has never been better placed to address child poverty. One Family called for the Child Dependent Allowance to be increased to €40 per week pending the promised introduction of an employment neutral new childcare payment for families living in poverty.’

One Family have drawn up a coordinated plan of ten steps to achieve equality for all families.

1. Provide adequate incomes for one-parent families dependent on social welfare.
2. Provide adequate supports to ensure that lone parents in work can access well paid and meaningful employment.
3. Remove poverty traps that prevent one-parent families moving off social welfare dependency.

4. Remove barriers that currently prevent one-parent families achieving equal access to housing and healthcare.
5. Provide adequate supports to assist families experiencing family breakdown and new family formation.
6. Give recognition and support for the role of parenting in one-parent families.
7. Remove inequalities faced by migrant one-parent families.
8. Provide equitable pregnancy services for all.
9. Ensure the rights of non-marital one-parent families.
10. Develop a coordinated strategy to achieve equality for all one- parent families.

Dowload a full copy of the One Family Pre-Budget Submission here

ENDS

For further information or a copy of the full submission contact:
Ruth Coleman, Communications Manager 01 662 9212/086 174 2315
Candy Murphy, Policy & Campaigns Manager 01 662 9212