Media – One Family

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One Family calls for implementation of out of court solutions for Child Maintenance issues

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Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families’ response to the publication of the Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders

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Dublin, Monday 8th January 2024: One Family welcomes the Department of Justice’s Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders, which addresses long-standing concerns regarding non-payment. This action was prompted by the Government’s decision not to establish a Child Maintenance Agency, despite its recommendation in the Murphy Child Maintenance Review Group report.
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Karen Kiernan, One Family CEO, stated, “One Family believes the only adequate response to the need to reform how child maintenance is administered in Ireland is the establishment of an independent child maintenance agency or analogous system. Given that courts instead will need to continue to shoulder the work of maintenance assessment and enforcement; we believe that urgent priority must be given to the development of new Family Law courts with specialist trained judiciary, shorter waiting times and an emphasis on out of court solutions.
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“It is of particular concern to us that separated parents will continue to be forced into adversarial legal systems that are often slow and expensive in order to deal with basics such as child maintenance. We see constantly in our services that unpaid maintenance means the family must cut back on essentials, bills cannot be paid, and families can go into arrears or debt.
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“Unfortunately, whilst this report recommends some positive changes, it falls short of providing families with an independent, non-adversarial process through which to assess and enforce child maintenance orders.”
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We hope that the planned development of guidelines for the Courts in enforcing maintenance orders and attempting to standardise assessments will hear the voices and experiences of parents who have direct experience of child maintenance.
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It is encouraging that there will be a wider selection of enforcement tools available to courts for non-payment of court ordered child maintenance, and that the court will determine which one is most suitable in each case. However, the onus is still on the receiving parent to initiate another court case, which we know from their own testimonies can bring about added stress and expenses.
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We are pleased that the Family Justice Forum will work together with the Department of the Taoiseach’s Child Poverty Unit to ensure there is a positive impact on child poverty levels. This is an essential aspect that requires thorough monitoring and ensuring compliance with orders.
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For more information, visit Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders.

Issued on behalf of One Family

Date: 8 January 2024
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Note to 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 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 01 662 9212 or helpline@onefamily.ie.

For Media Enquiries:

Laura Curtin, Communications Manager

Email: lcurtin@onefamily.ie

Tel: 086 853 7043
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15% increase in queries to national one-parent family helpline

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Press release, Monday 28 August

Queries to the askonefamily national helpline, a specialist support line for one-parent families, increased by 15% in 2022 as families struggled with tightening energy, food and housing prices. The statistic was revealed as One Family, Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families, launched its Annual Report for 2022.
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Karen Kiernan One Family CEO said, “The surge in queries to our helpline is more evidence of the pressure one-parent families are experiencing. Parents sought advice on housing, finance and social welfare as they strained to keep their heads above water. This is a direct result of Government policy and will only get worse; queries to the helpline in Q1 2023 are already 30% ahead of 2022. The budget, last year, had next to nothing for one-parent families despite all the evidence that showed these families are amongst the poorest in the state and needed targeted support. In 2022, One Family issued almost €4,000 worth of food vouchers to struggling families and over 500 Christmas gifts to children. These donations were sourced through the generosity of companies and the public and without them many families would have gone hungry, or children would have had nothing for Christmas.”
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Carly Baily, One Family Policy Officer, said, “If Government are serious about ending child poverty, there needs to be meaningful targeted supports for one-parent families in Budget 2024. One-parent families are not looking for hand-outs but for supports to help them escape poverty. A stand-alone child maintenance system is urgently required to pull families out of poverty. Child maintenance and child benefit shouldn’t be assessed as means for access to public supports and schemes. These are all achievable; all Government needs to do is target resources on families who need it the most instead of national giveaways.”

Karen Kiernan One Family CEO said, “Last year, One Family marked its 50th anniversary. What was striking was the same issues of poverty, childcare and housing insecurity are still plaguing parents today. It doesn’t have to be this way, and this is not the Ireland most of us want to live in.”
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For Editors:

These services include the 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 or helpline@onefamily.ie

Link to One Family Annual Review:

For further information visit: https://onefamily.ie/

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Organisations call for wording on upcoming referendum to be published

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A coalition of organisations has written an open letter to the Taoiseach saying time is needed for a national conversation on the Family, Care, and Gender Equality referendum

If the family, care and gender equality referendum is to go ahead in November, then the wording that people will be asked to vote on must be published as soon as possible to allow time for a national conversation. That is according to a coalition of organisations who sent an open letter to the Taoiseach this week.
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The government announced a referendum last March on foot of recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality. They recommended a referendum to remove the Constitutional limits on women; to value and recognise care in the home and the wider community; and to protect all families equally.

Director of the National Women’s Council, Orla O’Connor, said:

“Our Constitution, our foundational document, contains restrictive language on women’s role in society. It is outdated and carries a legacy of the mistreatment of women up to today. It’s important this is amended so that it reflects the value of care and everyone’s role in care right across our society. NWC is looking forward to a national conversation on these issues but unless wording is published soon, we’re concerned about the proposed timeline.”
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SIPTU Deputy General Secretary Ethel Buckley said:

“As the union of paid care workers – numbering up to 100,000 people in Ireland – we want to ensure the work of carers on the front line in the home and in the community is recognised and valued. A national conversation on issues as significant as women’s role in society, the value and recognition of care both inside the home and in the wider community, and the definition of family, deserves time.”
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Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family said:

“This referendum is an opportunity to offer recognition to families who have been mistreated over the years. There are families living in Ireland now who are not recognised as such in our Constitution, who have been waiting years for recognition. Government owes it to them to publish wording as soon as possible before the referendum.”

Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at Family Carers Ireland, said:

“We believe this referendum, and in particular, the replacement of Article 41.2 with wording that recognises the societal value of care in the home and wider community and obliges the State to take measures to support family carers, is a milestone moment in our history and therefore are calling for the urgent publication of the wording.”
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The letter is signed by five organisations: Treoir, Family Carers Ireland, One Family, the National Women’s Council (NWC) and SIPTU. There are a large number of other organisations who are keen to support the referendum but cannot do so until the wording is published.

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Read the letter here:
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Lone parents at breaking point ahead of Budget Forum Meeting

Urgent targeted action is needed as many one-parent families struggle to put food on the table.

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Press release,

Tuesday 18 July,

Lone parent families are at breaking point and require urgent targeted supports in Budget 2024 according to One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families. The call comes ahead of the Department of Social Protection’s Pre-Budget Forum tomorrow, Wednesday 19^th July and as the organisation launches its Pre-Budget Submission.
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Karen Kiernan CEO of One Family said, “What we are hearing from our services and through our helpline is that parents are struggling. They’re straining to keep their heads above water but an unequal social welfare system is pulling them down. Lone parent families are not looking for hand-outs but for supports to help them escape poverty. A stand-alone child maintenance system is urgently needed to pull families out of poverty, child maintenance and child benefit shouldn’t be accessed as means for access to public supports and schemes. Lone parents should be eligible for all parts of an enhanced SUSI grant, irrespective of which housing support they are in receipt of, or whether the course is full, part-time or blended. These are all achievable; all Government need to do is focus resources and the result is thousands of children are pulled out of poverty.”
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Carly Bailey Policy Officer with One Family said, “One-parent families are consistently overrepresented in poverty, homelessness and deprivation figures. Yet despite all the evidence, targeted interventions to reduce poverty in one-parent households were shamefully absent from last year’s Budget. It is no surprise that income inadequacy has deepened for one parent families again this year as a result. Budget 2024 must include specific targeted measures such as a significant Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) payment in order to provide a meaningful reduction in poverty in one-parent families.”
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Our key budget asks:

Increase the Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) payment by €15 for children over 12 years and €10 for children under 12 years.
Provide free (or almost free) access to childcare to all families in receipt of the Medical Card.
Expand eligibility for the Living Alone Allowance, Telephone Allowance and Household Benefits Package.
Ensure lone parents are eligible for all parts of an enhanced SUSI grant, irrespective of which housing support they are in receipt of, or whether the course is full, part-time or blended.
Increase the housing disregard for One Parent Family and Job Seekers Transitional payment in line with market rents. This has not been increased since 1997.
Establish an independent child maintenance agency.

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About One Family:

One Family is Ireland’s organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and 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 askonefamily national helpline on 01 662 9212, counselling, and provision of training courses for parents and for professionals. For further information visit: www.onefamily.ie

To read our Pre-Budget Submission

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family | t: 086-8509191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Press release – National One Parent Family Alliance

One Parent Families Must Be Prioritised in Budget 2024

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Wednesday 12^th July 2023

The National One Parent Family Alliance (NOPFA) an alliance of civil society organisations concerned about the high levels of poverty experienced by lone parents and their children is calling on Government to urgently prioritise one parent families in Budget 2024. The alliance will hold a pre-Budget briefing with media and political representatives to highlight their concerns and ‘asks’ for lone parent families on Wednesday 12^th July between 10am – 1 pm in Buswells Hotel.
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The alliance which includes Barnardos, Children’s Rights Alliance, One Family, Family Resource Centre National Forum, FLAC, Focus Ireland, National Women’s Council, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, SPARK, and Treoir have prepared a Pre-Budget Submission stressing the need to prioritise supports for one parent families in Budget 2024.

The key asks are:

An increase of €10 per week for children under 12 and €15 per week for children over 12 is needed to retain the purchasing power of the Qualified Child Payment and make real progress on tackling child poverty.
In recognition of the income cliff when the youngest child reaches 14, extend Jobseekers Transition Payment to parents in work, education or training until their youngest child finishes second level education.
Make the Fuel Allowance payable to families in receipt of the Working Family Payment as a targeted measure to reach more families experiencing energy poverty. Estimated cost: €40.6 million
Extend entitlement of the Living Alone Allowance and Household Benefits package to one parent families in recognition that they rely on a single long term social welfare payment and are at a much greater risk of poverty and income inadequacy than two adult households.
The Housing Income Disregard was introduced in 1997 at a rate of £75 (€95.23) and it has not increased since then and it does not reflect current housing costs. Families are at increased risk of homelessness at the time of relationship breakdown, and an increase in the Housing Income Disregard in line with actual market costs would support families to remain in the family home.

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NOPFA says these measures are well targeted and will make a real difference in the lives of thousands of children. Importantly, it will help achieve the Taoiseach’s ambition of making a sustained impact on the number of children growing up in poverty – the majority of whom are living in one parent families – during his term.

Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council said “Lone parents, the vast majority of whom are women, are one of the groups most at risk of poverty in Ireland today. In Budget 2024, government must support one-parent families by raising social welfare rates so that they provide a Minimum Essential Standard of Living, and by investing in vital public services. This includes a further 25% reduction in childcare costs in 2024, in tandem with the development of a public childcare model to enhance accessible, affordable, quality childcare for families. Government cannot outrun the cost-of-living with tax cuts for higher earners – these will reinforce inequalities for women and will not help one-parent families”.

Louise Bayliss, Campaign Coordinator with Focus Ireland said “We are concerned with the disproportionate increase of family homelessness among lone parent households. Focus Ireland have previously called for a taskforce to examine the causes and solutions for homelessness among lone parent households. The monthly homelessness figures now evidence the urgent need for this task-force.”

Damien Peelo, CEO of Treoir said “From the calls to our information service, we hear of the real daily struggle many one parent families have to cope with due to inadequate financial support and we are calling on targeted financial supports for one parent families to ensure their children have a realistic chance to break the cycle of poverty.”

Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family said, “We know from our frontline services and helpline that parents are struggling to keep their heads above water this summer. The theme of the summer for many is stress, stress to keep food on the table, stress to keep a roof over children’s heads. Short-term measures keep the waters out for a week or two but then parents are back trying to plug gaps. One-parent families need targeted supports in this Budget. Short-term and universal measures leave the poorest children in the state even poorer in the long-term.”

Suzanne Connolly, Chief Executive at Barnardos said, “almost 40% of the children Barnardos supports are living in one parent families. As a society, it is unfair and unjust that children in these families are often at the greatest risk of being pulled into deprivation. We know from our services that the cost of living crisis has disproportionately increased financial pressures on lone parents. The Government needs to act in Budget 2024 to better protect children living in these families, introducing targeted supports that will help their immediate health and wellbeing as well as their future development and opportunities.”
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The lack of permanent, adequate, and targeted measures in Budget 2023 has left families vulnerable to hardship and Budget 2024 needs to ensure lone parent families are supported.

Analysis from the Vincentian MESL Research Centre shows one parent household cases continue to demonstrate the greatest depth of income adequacy compared to equivalent two parent household cases. The MESL analysis has consistently identified older children as having additional and different needs distinct from younger children. The core MESL cost is highest for older children, aged 12 and over, at €149.05 per week. Only 61.5% of this need is met by social welfare payments, leaving a weekly shortfall of €57.42 per week. Budget 2024 must address this income inadequacy to reduce chid poverty and deprivation.

Since the ending of the eviction ban, family homelessness has increased by 131 homeless families, but more shockingly, lone parents make up 72% of the increase. In the last year, family homelessness increased by 30%. However, lone parents experienced a much higher increase of 38%, compared to a 20% increase for other families. It is clear lone parent households should be identified as an at risk group and a task force should be immediately set up to support families at risk of homelessness.

Ends

Members of NOPFA will be available for comment on the day.

Notes to editors:

The National One Parent Family Alliance comprises ten national organisations including Barnardos, Children’s Rights Alliance, One Family, Family Resource Centre National Forum, FLAC, Focus Ireland, National Women’s Council, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, SPARK, and Treoir. This Alliance was established in 2020 around a shared concern about the high levels of poverty experienced by lone parents and their children.
Children in one parent families are four times more likely to experience poverty than children in two parent families. Prior to cost of living increases, 17% of one parent families lived in consistent poverty, 45% were experiencing enforced deprivation and almost 80% were unable to afford an unexpected expense. Despite making up only 20% of families in Ireland, one parent families account for 56% of homeless families. (EU SILC, 2022)

To read the NOPFA Pre-Budget Submission click here:

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Always the Two of Us – new documentary theatre on growing up in a one-parent family in Ireland

Press Release,

Wednesday 7^th June,
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The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre and One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families, are delighted to announce the free, rehearsed reading of Always the Two of Us, by Kate Heffernan taking place tomorrow Thursday 8^th June at 6pm at The Ark in Temple Bar. The new piece of documentary theatre looks behind the curtains of Irish family life at the real life experiences of adults who grew up in one-parent families during the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s; a time when these families often faced shame and scorn.
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One Family CEO, Karen Kiernan said, “This is such an important piece of theatre, to be able to tell the often-hidden stories of children (now adults) who grew up on one-parent families in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. We’ve heard the harrowing stories of the mother and baby homes and the laundries, but Kate has managed to capture the complex range of experiences of children in these homes, the love, the laughter, the shade and the light that comes through. The piece was commissioned to celebrate our 50th anniversary and we want to say a huge thanks to Kate and The Ark for the tremendous amount of work that went into this piece.”
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Aideen Howard, Director of the Ark said, “The Ark makes art for by, about and with children. While most of our programme is created for children we also commission work for a grown up audience about the experience of children and childhood. We were delighted to commission playwright Kate Heffernan to create The Ark’s first work of documentary theatre which will be presented as a reading directed by Maisie Lee and read by an outstanding cast. It was a privilege to work together with One Family whose championing of the rights of children. parents and diverse families is an inspiration to us.”
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Always the Two of Us was commissioned by The Ark and One Family, this new documentary theatre script has emerged from conversations with men and women, of varying ages, and from both urban and rural backgrounds. In this rehearsed reading directed by Maisie Lee, actors Catherine Byrne, Lewis Harris, Genevieve Hulme Beaman, Lauren Larkin and John Olohan will read multiple roles to share their stories and experiences.

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For Editors:

The Ark is a dedicated cultural centre for children. We create opportunities for children, along with their families and friends or with their school, to discover and love art. Through our work with leading Irish and international artists children can enjoy performances in our unique child-sized theatre, view engaging exhibitions or participate in creative workshops.

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 on Always the Two of Us click here

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Higher rate of homelessness in one-parent families requires urgent Government action.

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Press Release

Friday, 26^th May 2023

Figures published by the Department of Housing today, show the devastating impact the eviction ban is starting to have on one-parent family households. Homeless figures show there was 962 one-parent families living in emergency this month, up 64 or 7%, since March. One-parent families continue to make up over half of all families in homelessness, a trend that has persisted since the start of the housing crisis. One Family are deeply concerned at the rate of increase this month, with homelessness in one-parent families increasing more than three times the rate in the general population.
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One Family CEO Karen Kiernan said, “What we are witnessing is a large-scale failure of Government policy. We see from our services the stark reality behind these figures. Families are under incredible mental stress; whether they have already been forced into homelessness or are facing the looming threat of eviction. Parents are at breaking point trying to maintain normal lives for their children. Childhoods are being blighted as children struggle to cope with parental stress and the reality of not having a safe, secure or appropriate home. The worrying thing is these figures probably don’t reflect the true impact of the eviction ban as these evictions normally take a few months after notices are served to take affect. We urgently need a family homelessness strategy with targeted measures for one-parent families.”
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Niamh Kelly, One Family Policy Manager said “There were 962 one-parent families living in homeless accommodation in April, 7% more than when the eviction ban was in effect in March. It must be remembered that these figures, while devastating, do not tell the full story and only capture those who are presenting to state funded emergency services. We are seeing from our services a whole cohort of people who are not captured in these numbers, who are couch surfing and staying with relatives in less than ideal circumstances. These families have been cut adrift and face increasing dangerous seas.”

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For Editors:

For further information visit: https://onefamily.ie/

For housing figures click here

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Researchers from University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin will today launch a research report documenting the lived experiences of Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) recipients. The research, conducted in association with One Family, will explore how JST is working ‘on the ground’. As JST is a relatively new payment in the Irish social welfare system, little is known about how it is experienced by recipients. Furthermore, because people living in single parent households are consistently over-represented in poverty statistics across all metrics (at risk of poverty, enforced deprivation and consistent poverty), how caregivers in one-parent households experience a policy that is designed with such households in mind represents important work.

To read the report:

In Transit Research Report

To read the briefing paper:

In Transit Policy Briefing

Read the information leaflet:

JST – Information leaflet

To view a recording of the event:

Recording of the Research Launch
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On mark UN International Day of the Family, One Family is calling for a change to article 41.3 of the Constitution on the definition of the Family. We are calling for definition in the Constitution to be expanded to give rights and protection to all family forms; currently, the Constitution only recognises the married family. We are now hopefully on the verge of achieving a vote on this change with the referendum on Family, Care and Equality due to take place in November. The final wording of the referendum questions have not been finalised, but we know there is a commitment from Government to ensure that all families receive Constitutional protection. We need your support the ensure Government keep to their commitments and to help us in any campaign in the referendum.

For more information on article 41.3 click here: To join the campaign click here
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At a wonderful event at the National Library of Ireland (NLI) head office in Dublin, One Family/Cherish, today, donated their archives to the National Library of Ireland for safe keeping. CEO of One Family, Karen Kiernan said: “These archives give voice to the stories of women and children who were shunned by the State and by parts of society. When Cherish was established in 1972, there was no lone parents allowance and single pregnant women had an uncertain future – they were often thrown out of their homes, lost their jobs and were rejected by their communities. In these archives the words of these women endure, their voices are included in our national story and are now protected in the national archive.” To read the press release click here

The Cherish administrative and organisational records will be catalogued and available to researchers by the end of 2023. The Client Case Files and correspondence that contains personal information has been designated “Not for Consultation” (NFC) and will not be available to researchers. In collecting material relating to living persons, and in line with our statutory obligations under GDPR, the NLI applies a strict approach to the protection of privacy.
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National Library of Ireland marks acquisition of Cherish archive

Collection provides insight into life for lone-parent families from 1970s onwards

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The National Library of Ireland (NLI) has today (24.04.23) announced the acquisition of the archive of Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families One Family, formerly known as Cherish. Dating from the organisation’s establishment in the early 1970s to the early 2000s, the archive provides an insight into the experiences and challenges of one-parent families at that time.

Cherish was set up in 1972 by Maura O’Dea Richards after she placed an advert in The Evening Herald seeking to reach other women in Ireland who were unmarried and had children. A small number answered the advert and Cherish was born. It took its name from the 1916 Proclamation, which declared that Ireland would “cherish all of the children of the nation equally”. Cherish changed its name to One Family in 2004, in recognition of a changing Ireland in which one-parent families existed in many forms.
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The archive comprises two parts: the first contains case files that record the circumstances of individual women who came to Cherish for advice and support, and includes correspondence dating from 1974 to 1987. The second part of the archive contains the administrative records of the organisation, and includes AGM minutes, submissions, correspondence and publications lobbying for legislative reform.

Speaking at an event to mark the acquisition, Director of the NLI, Dr Audrey Whitty said: “The NLI is Ireland’s memory keeper and as such we are committed to collecting Ireland’s many voices and their diverse experience. We are increasingly adding the stories of women and under-represented groups to our collections. We are proud to receive these papers from Cherish, which provide a fascinating insight into the lives of one-parent families from the early 1970s, societal attitudes towards them, and how they have changed over the years.”
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CEO of One Family, Karen Kiernan said: “The archival material we have donated to the National Library provides insights into the lives of one-parent families in Ireland in the very recent past. It gives voice to the stories of women and children who were shunned by the State and by parts of society. When Cherish was established in 1972, there was no lone parents allowance and single pregnant women had an uncertain future – they were often thrown out of their homes, lost their jobs and were rejected by their communities. This comes through in some of the letters from service users that are included in the archive – some are heartbreaking, others are full of positivity where family and community support is clear.”

Mary Kerrigan ran the Clare/Limerick branch of Cherish for many years. She said: “Despite being an unmarried mother in the 1970s and the stigma I felt from some people, they may now think I am a very important person because the Cherish records are in the archives of the National Library of Ireland. What the women in Cherish did made a massive difference to society in Ireland, working hard for social, financial and legal rights for unmarried mothers and their children which is something One Family continues to this day. We did this with the help of people such as Mary Robinson, who was our President until she became President of Ireland.”

ENDS
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Notes to Editors:

In collecting material relating to living persons, and in line with our statutory obligations under GDPR, the NLI applies a strict approach to the protection of privacy. The Client Case Files and correspondence that contains personal information has been designated “Not for Consultation” (NFC) and will not be available to researchers. The Cherish administrative and organisational records will be catalogued and available to researchers by the end of 2023.

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One Family’s New Futures Employability Programme has done it again and won the Special Recognition Award at the Aontas Star Awards. This is the second time the employability programme, which boasts a 85% progression rate, has won this prestigious honour, having scooped the same award in 2019. The award was presented at a ceremony in Croke Park, Dublin this morning.

Karen Kiernan CEO of One Family said, “We’re just so proud of Valerie Maher, Niamh Wynne and all the New Futures team. This is a huge achievement and it is recognition of the team’s hard work but also recognition for all of the parents who have gone through the programme. Huge thank you to ESF Ireland for funding the programme and our current partners the Department of Social Protection who are working with us to deliver the programme through the EaSI programme.”

New Future’s sister course, the New Steps Personal Development programme will start on May 10th delivered via Zoom each Wednesday morning from 10am to 12.30pm. The programme is open to lone parents receiving the One-Parent Family Payment (OPF) or Job Seekers Transitional Payment (JST) and who are living in Cavan, Monaghan, Louth or Meath.

To register and for more information please email programmes@onefamily.ie or call Niamh at 01 662 9212. For more information about One Family please click here https://onefamily.ie/education-development/employability-programmes/new-steps/

One Family’s employability and education programmes are part supported by funding received under the Gender Equality Activity of the European Social Fund (ESF) Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 (‘PEIL’) and the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme 2014-2020.

The ESF PEIL Gender Equality Activity aims to promote social inclusion and combat discrimination in the labour market. The EaSI programme aims to promote a high level of quality and sustainable employment, guaranteeing adequate and decent social protection, combating social exclusion, poverty, and improving working conditions.
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Referendum on Who is Family – symbolic reparation for wrongs of the past

One Family welcomes announcement of commitment for referendum on who is family and care in the Constitution.

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Press release:

Wednesday, 8 March 2022

One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families has welcomed today’s announcement that a referendum on Family, Care and Gender Equality is to be held in November 2023 saying that an inclusive view to family can act as an ‘act of symbolic reparation’ for the wrongs of the past. The planned referendum announced by the Taoiseach this morning comes following the report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality, the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality and following years of campaigning by one-parent families groups seeking equality for non-marital families.
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One Family CEO Karen Kiernan said, “We welcome today’s announcement of a date for a referendum on Gender Equality and the Definition of the Family. The current Article 41.3 of the Constitution on the definition of the family denies one-parent families the same constitutional protection as married families and we will be campaigning for this to change in the forthcoming referendum. Given Ireland’s grim treatment of unmarried parents and their children in previous decades, a vote to change this Article could be seen as an act of a symbolic reparation for the sins of the past. We need this combined with a new inclusive financial reparation for survivors of the Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries to help to heal the wounds of the past.”
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One Family/Cherish founder Maura O’Dea Richards said, “As a so-called ‘unmarried mother’ in 1970s Ireland. I repeatedly saw women with no choice, who were forced to put their children up for adoption, go into Mother & Baby Homes or become homeless and outcast. While Article 41.3 of the Constitution has little practical impact on the lives of families today – I believe it is a symbol. A symbol of discrimination and isolation. It tells families they are ‘other’ they are outside our community and society. All families are entitled to respect and protection. Discrimination against families who are not married must end and a vote to change Article 41.3 is a hugely symbolic step to achieve this .”

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For Editors:

For further information visit:

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Press release:

Wednesday, 22 February 2022

One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families has warned the rise in poverty rates in lone parent families show Government policies designed to tackle poverty are failing. The warning comes as the latest Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) published by the CSO confirms consistent poverty in one-parent families rose to 14.1% in 2022, almost three times the rate of the general population (5%). Deprivation in one-parent families remains unacceptably high with almost half (43.5%) of households with one adult with children under 18 years of age living in deprivation, this compares to 17.7% of people in two-parent households. The charity is calling on Government to urgently introduce targeted support for struggling one-parent families.
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Karen Kiernan, CEO with One Family said, “It’s just not right in a country as wealthy as Ireland that almost half (43.5%) of one-parent families are living in deprivation, while a quarter (23.8%) are at risk of poverty and 14.1% of lone parents are living in consistent poverty. Behind these statistics are real children and families who are struggling to feed and house themselves. There is no let up for these families and while short-term measures keep the wolf from the door for a month or two, that wolf is lurking; these families need targeted long-term support to help them escape poverty.”
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Niamh Kelly, Policy Manager with One Family said, “We have seen how a lack of effective policymaking and failure to target one-parent families by Government has resulted in the high levels of poverty and deprivation experienced by one-parent families. In both Budget 2023 and yesterday’s cost-of-living package the Government chose populist, once-off payments over much needed targeted, sustainable measures. 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 have put forward evidenced based solutions and targeted measures which will reduce the high rates of poverty and deprivation to Government. 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 that are targeted, not populist.”

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For Editors:

For further information visit: https://onefamily.ie/

Link to CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions statistics
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Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Video and Resources are now available from our Building a Family Law System for Separating Families Webinar. Click here for more…
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One Family is delighted to announce the date of the next Family Law seminar which will take place on Monday 5 December from 4pm-6pm. The latest webinar will look at ‘Building a Family law System for Separating Families’ and will feature a panel of national and international experts. The webinar will examine the Department of Justice’s recently launched Family Justice Strategy and will look at how the plan will impact court users and how the voice of the child will be incorporated into Family Law proceeding which affect them.

For more information including a list of confirmed speakers click here:
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Lone parent and separating families cautiously optimistic following publication of the new Family Justice Strategy and child maintenance reforms

Putting the needs and voice of children first in family law proceedings will require a root and branch reform of how we manage separation in this country

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Press release:

Wednesday, 16^th November 2022

Lone parent and separating families are “cautiously optimistic” following the publication, this afternoon, of the Department of Justice’s new Family Law Strategy and reforms of Child Maintenance according to One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and separating. One Family was a member of the advisory group on the Family Justice Strategy advocating for the needs of separating families and those sharing parenting of their children.
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Karen Kiernan CEO of One Family said, “We welcome the publication of the new strategy, which is a ‘step in the right direction’. We particularly welcome the strong commitment to centre the needs and voice of children in family law proceedings which affect them. This will require a root and branch rethink of how we currently manage separation in this country and needs to be adequately funded. We also welcome the publication of the Child Maintenance Review Group Report and the measures to be introduced by the Department of Social Protection. It is good the Department has listened to the major problems and poverty parents have experienced due to their draconian rules. Unfortunately, the Government and review group have not fully understood the need to remove Child Maintenance from an adversarial court system and that will sadly continue.”
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Karen Kiernan continued, “What families really require is a well-trained and resourced judiciary who are supported by out of court family supports including specialist services such as assessments for court; child contact centres; therapeutic and parenting services. It is disappointing that there is no plan or resources in this strategy for these necessary family support services. These supports ultimately empower families to make their own decisions and save the state money as well as decreasing family conflict and harm to children. If we know that separating in conflict and being thrown into an adversarial court processes harms parents and causes adverse effects on children – why do we continue to support such a harmful system with state funding?
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“One Family has been working on the frontline of helping parents separate well for their children with piecemeal funding for innovative services and critical research. A much more strategic approach is required to ensure all families can benefit from services that are outside the court process as is routinely available in neighbouring countries.”

“This strategy is to be welcomed but we need to see the resources that will be available to support all the various agencies to deliver this strategy. Funding will need to be provided including financial support for some families, to ensure children’s voices are heard.”

Note: One Family will be holding their third webinar on Family Law Reform on 5 December 4-6pm with a range of academics, practitioners and the Dept of Justice to reflect on this strategy, the new Family Courts Bill and emerging research and practice to support separating families. Register here:

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For Editors:

Relevant One Family Submissions:

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Submission on the General Scheme of the Family Court Bill. Link here.
Family Justice Oversight Group Consultation. Link here.

For further information visit: https://onefamily.ie/

Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Government offers armbands when a lifeboat is needed.

Long-term targeted supports are needed to stop families being pulled into poverty.

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Press release:

Monday, 14^th November 2022,

One Family, Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families, has said universal and short-term social welfare increases are akin to offering struggling families ‘armbands when a lifeboat is needed’. Extensive research has shown that one-parent families require targeted long-term supports to address soaring poverty rates, yet Government failed to act in Budget 2023 despite all the evidence. The call comes as the charity launched its Annual Review 2021 which sees a 13% increase in calls to the askonefamily helpline.
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One Family CEO, Karen Kiernan said, “This week’s once-off social welfare payments are to be welcomed and will help families in the short-term but many struggling one-parent families are ineligible for these payments and will face a bleak new year. We are seeing through our services families struggling to keep their heads above water and we are deeply concerned about the new year and what the bleak days of early 2023 have in store. Let’s be under no illusions, in the last Budget, this Government prioritised its own electoral success over the needs of the poorest children in the state. These short-term and universal measures will leave the poorest children in the state even poorer in the long-term.”
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Karen Kiernan continued, “Last year due to the incredible generosity of the public we were able to issue over €16,000 worth of food, back to school vouchers, and family tickets directly to children and families in need. Our worry is, as we start our Christmas Toy Appeal, is this year’s demand will exceed what we are able to deliver. In real terms, this means children and families will go hungry and cold as they run out of options. This just isn’t right in a country as wealthy as Ireland. The families we support desperately need targeted long-term supports. Government have all the facts and information but are not moving – we must ask why they seem blind to the needs on one-parent families.”

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For Editors:

Link to One Family Annual Review:
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For further information visit: https://onefamily.ie/

Stats from the One Family Annual Review:

Service user numbers:

2021 – 3,159 families

Helpline figures:

2021 – 4265 queries

Helpline queries by category:

Query Type	2021
Family Law	32%
Social welfare and Finances	34%
Family and parenting	14%
Adult ed/employment	4%
Support	16%
Total no. of queries	4265

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Survey marking 50^th anniversary of One Family reveals negative attitudes continue towards one-parent families.

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Press Release

Friday 14 October 2022

A survey looking at perceived attitudes to lone parents has revealed 80% of the 265 lone parents who completed the survey have experienced stigma or judgemental attitudes due to their family type. The survey results have been released as One Family, formerly Cherish, Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families celebrates its 50^th anniversary at an event at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
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Founder of One Family, Maura O’Dea Richards, said, “When we set up Cherish/One Family in October 1972 unmarried mothers were being ostracised in society and imprisoned in the laundries. Now 50 years later, it’s so sad to see these ridiculous attitudes to people parenting alone persist. A lot has changed in Ireland since 1972, and we now like to think of ourselves as a progressive forward-thinking country, but we still seem to have this blind spot about those parenting alone. It’s just not right and will continue until Ireland embraces all families. A good first start would be to change article 41.3 of the Constitution on the definition of the family.”
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Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family, said, “I’d like to say the survey results are a shock to us but they’re not. Through our work with families, we hear regular reports of discrimination, stigma and judgemental attitudes against one-parent families. Unfortunately, this seems to be manifesting in Government policy decisions. Since 2016, there have been more than 16 separate reports on lone parents and poverty, all say these families are the poorest in the state and need targeted supports. Yet we have no action by Government. Both the ESRI and CSO have shown, contrary to Government assertions, that lone parents will be worse-off following last month’s budget. Yet another blind eye is turned in Ireland’s relationship with one-parent families. Often indifference and discrimination can amount to the same thing.”
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Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) said, “Firstly I’d like to congratulate One Family for 50 years supporting one-parent families in Ireland. As a lone parent myself, I find the results of this vox pop survey extremely disappointing but unfortunately not surprising. I encourage anyone from a one-parent family who believes they have experienced discrimination to contact the IHREC offices and we will investigate the claim; no-one should be discriminated against because of their family type.”

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For Editors:
One Family was founded in October 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. For more information on One Family visit: www.onefamily.ie
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Survey Results:

This non-scientific survey was conducted online with one-parent families from 5/10/2022 to 12/10/2022 and had 265 respondents and was open to members of one-parent families. The survey had four questions:

Q1) Do you think people in one-parent families experience stigma or judgemental attitudes because of their family type in Ireland?

Yes 85.20%

No 13%

Don’t Know: 1.6%
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Q2) Have you experienced stigma or judgemental attitudes towards you or your family because of the type of family you are in?

Yes 80.58%

No 19.42%
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Q3) If you feel you have experienced negative attitudes because you are in a one-parent family, where has this been? (Respondents could give more than one answer)

Health Service: 39.89%

Education: 40.43%

Social Protection Services: 39.89%

Media: 45.21%

In my workplace: 28.72%

Family law courts: 32.45%

Law enforcement: 12.23%

Family and friends: 60.64%
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Quotes from parents relating to the answer above:

“GAA matches where other mothers wouldn’t engage much with me no matter how hard I tried to become friendly with them so I wouldn’t be standing on the side-lines alone.”

Quote from a mother

“Much of this is unintentional, but as a single parent much of the societal demands are worse for single parents e.g. affidavit getting a passport…The current creche crisis is especially grim for single working parents. Very much the expectation that a partner can take the child etc… I very envious of friends who both work from home and can juggle some childcare- feels like institutionalised stigma.”

Quote from a mother

“Local neighbours automatically asking about my ‘husband’ and being awkward when I tell them I’m single..”

Quote from a mother

“Community organisations who often do not understand that single parents can’t just leave their kids at home to attend ‘adult-only’ events and that many single parents can’t afford to pay a babysitter”

Quote from a mother

“I don’t fit a media or advocacy group stereotype so I tend to get an immediate dismissal when I mention this but …With some state and financial services I found when I initially became a male co-parent it meant I got a dismissive or occasionally quite negative response. Conversation tones and approaches negatively changed if I was being dealt with by a younger female provider with lots of ‘hummms’ or ‘sure right’ as if I’d invited the situation I was going through on to myself and my kids…”

Quote from a father

Q4) As a member of a one parent family how do you feel about your family type?

Positive 59.63%

Neutral 30.28%

Negative 10.09%

Selected comments from parents:

“I feel sorry for my child that the other parent didn’t want to be involved in their life. It is also a huge struggle after the child turns 18 you as a parent still have pay for college pay your bills and mortgage on your own with no benefits if your a full time worker.”

Quote from a mother

“Because I have raised her in a happy home….I have no one that divides my attention or contributes to conflict. It has been me and her for 17 years and we are so close. I really feel we are a lot closer as a mother and daughter than some of my friends who have children who are with their partners”

Quote from a mother

For further information visit: www.onefamily.ie
Available for Interview

Karen Kiernan, CEO

Further Information/Scheduling
Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294

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Press Release,
Tuesday, 13 September, 2022.

New guidelines for one-parent families and public bodies have been launched today by Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), Sinéad Gibney. The guidelines were developed by One Family – Ireland’s national organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and separating and are based on the voices and experiences of rights holders who participated in the research.
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Speaking at the launch, IHREC Chief Commissioner, Sinéad Gibney said, “The guidelines launched today will give parents guidance on their rights and importantly, will give public sector organisations a framework for protecting the human rights of one-parent families. Public sector organisations have an obligation to abide by the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty and ensure discrimination, if it does occur, is addressed promptly and transparently. One parent families deserve to be treated with respect and equality. These guidelines give parents a clear roadmap to address their concerns if they feel they have been discriminated against.”
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Niamh Kelly, One Family, Policy Manager said, “Listening to the experiences of people parenting alone has shown that while there is some good practice in providing services to one-parent families in public bodies, some public sector organisations are falling short of fulfilling their commitment to the Public Sector Duty and discrimination against one-parent families does unfortunately still occur. Parents told us they want to be treated with the respect and dignity their family deserves, they want equality for their family and an understanding by those working in public bodies of the unique challenges facing one-parent families. Our aim with the Human Rights, Equality and One-Parent Family guidelines is to bridge the gap in parents’ knowledge of their rights and protections under legislation and in public bodies’ understanding of the realities for people in one-parent families and help them fulfil their obligations under the Public Sector Duty.”
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Quotes from parents participating in the research:

The positive:
“My Department of Social Protection Case Officer was professional, kind and insightful…she recognised and acknowledged my previous skills, training and education.”
“When I split up with my child’s Dad, I had to get on to Revenue….and there was just somebody on the phone, and they were just really human. Just like “Oh, well, I hope you’re okay now”, you know… it was just a really human interaction.”

The negative:
“I was pregnant, I had nowhere to live, I was a nervous wreck. And I went into the services for support, and a man just looked at me with such contempt and he said, “You’re not going to get yourself a house now, just because you’ve gotten yourself into a stupid situation.”
“The woman I was speaking to and was referred to said to me it is my own fault, that if I didn’t have my child, I could have a career. That was it. I left the meeting, and I complained.”
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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.

Link to guidelines:

Guide for parents:

Guide for public sector bodies:

More information on the Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty:

Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty:

For further information visit: www.onefamily.ie

Available for Interview
Niamh Kelly, Policy Manager | t: 01-6629212

Further Information/Scheduling
Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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Cost of living increases are pushing more one-parent families into poverty

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Government must act now before low families are locked into poverty.

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One Family, Ireland’s national organisation for one-parent families, has called for urgent Government action to support low-income families in Budget 2023. Struggling one-parent families are being forced to choose between heat and food and the charity is extremely worried for winter 2022 without urgent Government action. The call comes as the charity launches its Pre-Budget Submission ahead of the Department of Social Protection’s Pre-Budget Forum on Wednesday. According to data from the CSO, children in one-parent families are four time more likely to live in poverty than children in two parent households.

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Niamh Kelly, One Family, Policy Manager said, “We are hearing from the families we work with they are increasingly concerned as prices continue to escalate. For any household, the costs of housing, food and fuel are a burden, but for one-parent families, many of whom are already living in poverty, they are huge. Budget 2023 must target those most in need and we are urging the Government to avoid the temptation for populist universal cash back schemes. Increasing core social welfare rates beyond inflation is the only chance many of the families we support have to keep their heads above water.”
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In its Pre-Budget Submission, the charity is calling for measures including increasing the Qualified Child Increase (QCI) payment by €12 for children over 12 years and €7 for children under 12 years, the establishment of an independent child maintenance agency to protect children from poverty and reduce parental conflict, and equality for one parent families accessing Government supports such as Parent’s Benefit and the Working Family Payment. To read the submission click here.
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Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family, “We know from our work with families the cost-of-living crisis is having a disproportionately high impact on one-parent families. For many families, who were already struggling, these increases will push them into a current of poverty that will be very hard to escape from. In real terms, this means children and families will go hungry and cold this winter as they run out of options. This just isn’t right in Ireland in the twenty-first century. In Budget 2023, Government must show they have learned the lessons of the Magdalene laundries and prioritise those on the margins. This Budget must be a life buoy and not a rock for low-income families.”
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About One Family:

To read our Pre-Budget Submission click here

Available for Interview

Niamh Kelly, Policy Manager | t: 01 -6629212

Further Information/Scheduling

Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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One Family’s Parenting Team is delighted to announce the publication of a new children’s book, The Doshel Bond by Dr Sara Flynn. One Family’s Director of Parenting and Professional Training, Geraldine Kelly, worked with Dr Flynn on the book which supports parents and professionals to discuss tricky topics with children.

The book is a heart-rendering tale of parent and sibling relationships within a contemporary blended family. Some aspects of blended families can cause big emotions for children, young and old. The Doshel Bond highlights the importance of not shying away from the difficult conversations about these issues and provides caring adults with a gentle vehicle for open communication with children and also for personal self-reflection.

Appropriate prompts and questions are dotted throughout the story to give adults the language to carefully probe emotive issues with children, such as different rules in different houses, expressing challenging feelings and words for new family members. All families have their challenges – love and communication are the key components that pave the way through them.

One Family have sent over 400 free copies of the book to professionals working with one parent families across the country.

The book is now available to buy for a cost of €12.50 at all good bookshops and online at: Outside the Box

This book was developed with support from HSE National Lottery funding in partnership with One Family.
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On Tuesday, 13 September, One Family will host an online seminar exploring the experiences of one-parent families who access public services. The seminar will examine how the Public Sector Human Rights and Equality Duty can prevent discrimination and protect human rights. At the event One Family will launch two new evidence-based guidelines, one for parents and one for the public sector, aimed at improving the experiences of people in one-parent families when interacting with public services.

As well as a presentation on the research underpinning the guidelines, the seminar will also hear from parents about their experiences and what they believe should happen next.

For more information and details click here:
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Did you grow up in a one-parent family in Ireland?

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If so, One Family & The Ark Cultural Centre for Children invite you to share your experience to help develop a new work for the stage.

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One Family is delighted to partner for the first time with The Ark to develop an exciting new work for the stage which aims to reflect real life experiences of children in one-parent families in Ireland over the years.

The Ark commissions, presents and produces work for, by and about children for young audiences ages 2-12 throughout the year and from time to time also creates and presents work for grow ups which reflects and celebrates children’s experiences. To mark 50 years of One Family and our work supporting one-parent families in Ireland since our foundation in 1972 as Cherish, we will collaborate with The Ark to develop a new piece of documentary theatre. 1 in 5 people in Ireland live in a one-parent family and 1 in 4 families with children in Ireland is a one-parent family.

Created by playwright Kate Heffernan, the piece will reflect stories and memories shared by grown-ups about their experiences as children growing up in one-parent families in Ireland. The aim is that through these shared memories, they can shine a light on the real experiences of one-parent families over the years in Ireland. All names provided will be changed and measures will be taken to anonymise stories to ensure that no one is identifiable.

Today a call out was announced inviting those over 18 to share their own experience to help in the development of this piece of documentary theatre.

“We’re really excited to be working with The Ark and Kate Heffernan, to develop this piece of theatre reflecting the diversity of family life in Ireland. One in five people in Ireland live in a one-parent family yet their stories are seldom told this will be an opportunity to show the rich tapestry of family life in Ireland. If you grew-up in a one-parent family in Ireland, including a separated and divorced family, we want to hear your story.”

Karen Kiernan, CEO of One Family

“The Ark makes art for by and about children, putting their experiences and their voices at the heart of everything we do. We are delighted to work, for the first time, with One Family on a new documentary piece by Kate Heffernan reflecting seldom told stories of growing up in Ireland.”

Aideen Howard, Director of The Ark

Kate Heffernan is an Irish playwright whose first play, In Dog Years I’m Dead was a winner of the Stewart Parker Trust Emerging Playwright Award 2013 and audiences at The Ark had a chance to experience her work when the wonderful Peat premiered there in 2019. She has been commissioned by The Ark and One Family to create this new work.

If you would like to share your experience you are invited to consider the following areas:

Did you grow up in a one-parent family – with your Mam, Dad, or a grandparent? Did you live part of the time with each of your parents? Did you grow up with a step-parent? Where did you live and who with?
What were some of the things about your family that you may want to share and celebrate? Do you have any particularly vivid or favourite memories from your childhood?
How do you think your childhood shaped the person you are or the life you lead today?
Was your childhood different to those around you because you lived in a one-parent family?
Would you be interested in talking directly to playwright Kate Heffernan, in person or by video call, as part of her research?

You can share your story in a number of ways:

You can share your story by filling out this form.
Submit a video or voice note, by emailing Kate Heffernan at participation@ark.ie.
Or post your response to Kate Heffernan, The Ark, 11A Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

For Editors:

One Family:

One Family was founded in 1972 as Cherish and is Ireland’s national organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting and separating. One Family provides 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 our 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. For further information visit: www.onefamily.ie

The Ark:

Established in 1995, The Ark is a dedicated cultural centre for children. We create opportunities for children, along with their families and friends or with their school, to discover and love art. We commission, produce and present work for, by and about children, from the ages of two to twelve years old. We do so in our architecturally award-winning home in the heart of Dublin’s Temple Bar, leased through a long-term cultural use agreement with Temple Bar Cultural Trust. We also work through our online channels, off-site and on tour in Ireland and abroad. Through our work with leading Irish and international artists children can enjoy performances in our unique child-sized theatre, view engaging exhibitions or participate in creative workshops. We also curate specific professional development opportunities for teachers and artists.

We work in partnership with others as artistic collaborators and regularly share our resources and knowledge with artists, educators and all those interested in child-centred arts practice. We also work with other likeminded organisations to advance children’s rights to art and culture as part of their learning and development. The Ark is dedicated to creating brilliant art experiences for children, schools and families.

The Ark gratefully acknowledges the continued support of its principal funder, The Arts Council, and its other annual supporters: the Department of Education, Temple Bar Cultural Trust and Dublin City Council.

Available for Interview:
Karen Kiernan, CEO | t: 086 850 9191
Further Information/Scheduling:
Noel Sweeney, Communications and Events Manager | t: 085 7241294
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