This Election – Fair Deal for One-Parent Families

There’s More to this Election than Stamp Duty –
We Still Need a Fair Deal for One-Parent Families
One Family today presented its Election Manifesto to Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan, TD.

At the launch Karen Kiernan, Director of One Family, called on all parties to commit to the development of Child & Family Contact services throughout Ireland.

Senator Mary Henry, President of One Family, said “I call on my colleagues to ensure the best for all families regardless of circumstances. I urge the next government to give expression to such a commitment by funding One Family to pilot an innovative Child & Family Contact Centre and the delivery of One Family Futures Programmes for lone parents wishing to participate in the labour market. “

Karen Kiernan, Director, added, “As an organisation which has worked closely with one-parent families in a period of enormous change in the social fabric of this country, we are uniquely well positioned to further develop a range of supports for such families. With funding from a government that has bursting coffers due to Ireland’s welcome prosperity, we know that we can affect enormous positive change in the attitudes, experiences and lives of the growing number of one-parent families in Ireland”.

In its manifesto One Family reminds all politicians that over one in 5 families with children under 20 in Ireland today are now one-parent families (Census 2006). These families are four times more likely to live in poverty than the population as a whole, while many fall short of achieving their potential in terms of education or employment.

One Family’s Election Manifesto also calls on the next government to commit to:

-ending poverty among one-parent families through raising state supports for families that need them, introducing a range of educational initiatives and providing positive employment opportunities for lone parents based on agreed and binding rights and responsibilities.

-addressing the inequalities experienced by children in one-parent families through ensuring that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

-supporting the diversity of one-parent families and ensuring respect and equality for all family types in the Irish constitution and in relevant legal and policy developments.

Candy Murphy, One Family’s Policy & Campaigns Manager said,
“One Family calls on all politicians engaged in the election to ensure that the needs of one-parent families are prioritised in the next programme for government.”

ENDS

Full copies of the One Family Election manifesto are available by calling
01 662 9212 or from our website: www.onefamily.ie

For further information please contact:
Karen Kiernan, Director, One Family at 01-6629212 or 086-850-9191

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Notes to Editors

This launch forms part of One Family’s election campaign. We have already advised all politicians and political parties of the content of our manifesto and have sent copies to all members of can*, our campaign and advocacy network, along with suggested questions for them to ask their local candidates.

One Family Futures is part of the holistic One Family services model that specifically supports lone parents to move towards education, training and employment.

One Family’s planned Child and Family Contact Centre will provide a space to support quality relationships between children and their parents, particularly after divorce and separation.

Photo of Minister Lenihan being presented with the Election Manifesto by Karen Kiernan, Director and children Tilly and Louie Lyons and Laoise O’Connell is available.