Study finds sixfold rise in one-parent families in poverty

The number of one-parent families living in poverty has increased almost sixfold in the last 20 years, according to a report to be published later this year.

The study, Lone Parents, by the National Economic and Social Forum, will be concluded by the autumn. The results so far were considered at a consultative plenary session in Dublin yesterday.

It has found that the number of one-parent families getting the one-parent family welfare payment has risen from 12,551 in 1981 to 73,282 this year. This means-tested weekly payment, a maximum of £85.50, plus £15.20 for each child, compares with the poverty threshold of £126 per adult per week. The fact that 30 per cent of all births are now outside marriage indicated "what a phenomenon single parenthood now is", said Ms Maureen Gaffney, chairwoman of the NESF.

In 1985, 8.5 per cent of births were outside marriage. While being born outside marriage did not necessarily mean being born into a lone parent family, she said Labour Force Survey figures indicated there had been a 23.7 per cent increase in the number of lone parents between 1989 and 1997. Some 13 per cent of families are headed by one parent.

"From a poverty perspective there has been a 47.3 per cent increase in the number of lone parent families with children under the age of 15," Ms Gaffney said.

"And these are the families at the greatest risk of falling into poverty."

The report calls on local authorities to give priority to housing one-parent families on housing waiting lists. It says the one-parent family payment should be benchmarked and increased in line with the PPF increases.

The project team's chairwoman, Ms Mary Murphy, said the delivery of payments and services was often so complex as to be difficult to access. The report recommends appointing "lone parent support workers" to work with lone parents at particular times of crisis "and to liaise with different statutory agencies". Such workers should be in the Family Services Projects.

Education pilot projects such as the Waterford Student Mothers' Project were praised. Following evaluation resources should be provided for mainstreaming such projects, the report says.