One Family welcomes the new Minister for Social Protection Minister Éamon Ó Cuív T.D’s efforts to improve the economic situation and social wellbeing of people in one-parent families. However they remain gravely concerned as to the whether the reforms of the One-Parent Family Payment as recently announced will result in improved outcomes for lone parents and their children.
Candy Murphy, One Family Policy & Research Manager said “Given current and projected very high levels of unemployment which are putting extreme pressure on our education and training systems coupled with the serious inadequacies in our childcare system, especially after-school care, we believe that the proposed changes will mostly result in the movement of lone parents from one welfare support to another.”
Seminal research by One Family which calls for a network of child contact centres in Ireland was launched this week by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews, TD, and the media response – including the front page of The Irish Examiner, three pieces in The Irish Times and other print coverage, along with a feature on RTE Radio 1’s Drivetime, interviews on TodayFM, Newstalk and FM104 – as well as many regional stations – proves just how important this research is. Candy Murphy, One Family Policy Manager and author of the report explains, ‘Child contact centres provide a safe, neutral and welcoming environment where regular contact between parents and children that do not live together can be supported and developed in a range of situations.’ For media coverage and information: (more…)
Ground breaking research by One Family, the leading service provider for people parenting alone and sharing parenting, launched 12 April 2010 at Dublin Castle by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Barry Andrews, TD, has called for a network of child contact centres throughout Ireland. The research entitled Supporting Child Contact: the Need for Child Contact Centres in Ireland was researched and written by Candy Murphy, Policy & Research Manager with One Family.
Candy Murphy explained, ‘Child contact centres provide a safe, neutral and welcoming environment where regular contact between parents and children that do not live together can be supported and developed in a range of situations.’ (more…)
At The Coach House Dublin Castle. Minister for Children Barry Andrews, TD, will launch the report. This will be followed by a seminar chaired by The Hon. Mr Justice Henry Abbott. See below for a copy of the summary and of the full report…
Summary – Supporting Child Contact: the Need for Child Contact Centres in Ireland
Full Report – Supporting Child Contact: the Need for Child Contact Centres in Ireland