‘Minister, I’m 7. Who’s going to mind me?’ Statement by OPEN, Barnardos and the National Women’s Cou

Published: Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Press Release

OPEN, Barnardos and the National Women's Council of Ireland have expressed serious concern at proposals to change the One Parent Family Payment (OPFP) outlined in the Social Welfare Bill, published today. The three organisations said that measures in the Bill to cease the payment of the OPFP to lone parents once their child reaches the age of 7 were regressive and counterproductive.

Frances Byrne, Director of OPEN, said: "We are dismayed that the age 7 is included in the Bill as the cut off point for parents receiving the OPFP. This is a regressive move that will increase poverty for lone parents and their children, who have already been hit by the disastrous cuts in Budget 2012. OPEN, Barnardos and the National Women's Council of Ireland are committed to fighting for the removal of this measure from the Social Welfare Bill over the coming weeks."

The three organisations said that they would also be scrutinising the Social Welfare Bill for other measures that will affect the most vulnerable members of Irish society: "Budget 2012 was a sly attack on many vulnerable groups in Ireland. The cumulative impact of the numerous stealth measures introduced is being felt across the country. It is crucial that the Social Welfare Bill does not pass quickly and silently through the Oireachtas without the proper level of debate on the impact its measures will have on real people and real lives."

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