Almost half of one-parent family households are living in enforced deprivation.
Government must act to stop one-parent families being pushed further into poverty
Press release:
Wednesday, 23 November 2022
One Family warns the rise in deprivation rate in one-parent families signals that Government policies designed to tackle poverty in one-parent families are failing. The warning comes as the latest Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) published by the CSO shows that higher rates of deprivation are seen amongst those living in single-adult households with children, where 45.4% are living in enforced deprivation, this compares to 18.2% of people in two-parent households. The charity is calling on Government to develop and publish a new National Child Poverty Plan and set up a dedicated unit to lead an integrated and cross governmental approach to address the high levels of deprivation and poverty in households headed by one parent.
Karen Kiernan, CEO with One Family said, “It is outrageous to think that just because of the type of family a child belongs to they are much more likely to go without basic necessities. CSO SILC stats show that 21.5% of those living in single-adult households with children were unable to afford to keep their home adequately warm; and 18.7% unable to afford to buy presents for family or friends at least once a year. High rates of deprivation in one-parent families is not new or caused by inflation, but the current cost-of-living increases are having a dramatic impact on these families many of whom are struggling to stay afloat and many who already feel like they are drowning. We are calling on the Government to take immediate, decisive action and throw these families the lifeline they so desperately need.”
Niamh Kelly, Policy Manager with One Family said, “We have seen how a lack of effective policymaking and apathy from Government has resulted in the high levels of poverty and deprivation experienced by one-parent families; the most recent example of this was in Budget 2023 which failed to deliver any specific, targeted measures for lone parent households. As chair of the National One Parent Family Alliance (NOPFA), a group of ten organisations working together to reduce the high levels of poverty experienced by lone parents and their children. We are deeply concerned about children in one parent families living in deprivation and we believe this needs to be recognised with cost-of-living measures using targeted resources.”
/Ends/
For Editors:
One Family was founded in 1972 as Cherish and is Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families and people sharing parenting or separating, offering support, information and services to all members of all one-parent families, to those sharing parenting, to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and to professionals working with one-parent families. Children are at the centre of One Family’s work and the organisation helps all the adults in their lives, including mums, dads, grandparents, step-parents, new partners and other siblings, offering a holistic model of specialist family support services.
These services include the lo-call askonefamily national helpline on 0818 66 22 12, counselling, and provision of training courses for parents and for professionals. For further information, visit www.onefamily.ie. The askonefamily helpline can be contacted on 0818 66 22 12 or 01-6629212.
For further information visit: https://onefamily.ie/
CSO SILC Results Published Wednesday 23 November
Available for Interview
Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191
Further Information/Scheduling
Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
