Sir, - It was with very mixed feelings that we at OPEN read two letters you published this week on the subject of lone parenthood, one from the PRO of Life (July 5th) and the other from a lone mother, C. McManus (July 7th).
While we welcome comments from other organisations regarding the lack of social supports for lone mothers, it is extraordinarily sad but not at all surprising that, in the 21st century, the era of the Celtic Tiger, a lone mother would admit in a national newspaper that, had she been fully aware of the reality of heading a one-parent family in Ireland, she might have had an abortion. Ms McManus described very well her experience of being a working lone mother and the poverty of wealth and spirit which automatically follows when one is sole parent and sole breadwinner.
We at OPEN are aware of the reality of the lives of lone parents through our work as a national anti-poverty network and because we are staffed and managed by lone parents. Others are also highlighting our situation: The Combat Poverty Agency in its recent review of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy cited a figure of 30 per cent poverty risk for one-parent families as against 22 per cent for all households. The most acute poverty and social exclusion is experienced by those existing on social welfare which since last month, when the Budget increase came into effect, totals £92.70 per week for those with one child.
In addition, the prejudice experienced by Ms McManus in public, at work, in the courts, and while accessing State services is commonplace. It unfortunately occurs in both urban and rural contexts and it is particularly aimed at those lone parents who are unmarried. Nevertheless, in OPEN's 76 self-help groups, there are many like her who are, on a daily basis, trying to build a better future for their children. As a society we need to recognise family diversity and create policies and provision which are truly family friendly, i.e., value and support children from all families, whether based on marriage or not. - Yours, etc.,
Frances Byrne, Manager, One Parent Exchange and Network, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.