The introduction of a work requirement for lone parents proposed in the Social Welfare Bill is unfair, the Society of St Vincent de Paul has said.
The Bill proposes that single parents whose youngest child is over 13 will no longer be able to claim one-parent family payments. Under the current system, a parent is entitled to receive the payments until the youngest child reaches 18, or 22 if the child is in full-time education.
The charity said yesterday the changes should not be implemented until an inter-departmental group is established to investigate and report on how the necessary income supports, education, childcare, housing and other services can be introduced.