The Government was today urged to provide proper childcare and assistance to lone parents moving from welfare into the world of work.
Support group One Family said the majority of single parents want to be employed but are keen to ensure their family’s needs are met.
Research conducted by the body show 80 per cent of lone parents are either working, looking for a job or are in full-time education.
Candy Murphy, One Family’s Policy and Research Manager, said the findings show that lone parents need a high-level of flexibility when it comes to employment.
“People parenting alone have to organise their work around parenting responsibilities and childcare options which means that most end up working part-time hours and experience limited financial reward in relation to employment,” she said.
“This creates a situation where work simply does not pay for lone parents; any government plans to move lone parents from welfare to work must address these barriers and provide substantial parenting and childcare supports to lone parents in order to make work viable for this vulnerable group.”
According to the 2006 census one in five children live in a lone parent family, while an EU study in 2006 found you are four times more likely to live in poverty if you live in a one-parent family.
One Family today launches its annual review which revealed almost 6,800 people availed of its services last year, an increase of more than 5 per cent on 2006.
Karen Kiernan, One Family Director, said: “We are delighted to have delivered 6,789 services to our clients in 2007 which is an increase of over 5 per cent on 2006 and that we continue to develop timely, relevant programmes which support lone parents to build better futures for themselves and their children.
“We are particularly pleased with the growth and development of our parenting supports for lone parents, most especially our important Parent Mentoring service.”
One Family has been operating for 36 years and provides a range of services for one-parent families in Ireland.
Services include parenting and skills training, counselling, parent mentoring and a wide range of information supports.
PA