A single parent has said that cost of living concerns are causing a "vicious cycle" for one parent families in Ireland.
Linda O'Sullivan, a mother of two children and an SNA, welcomed the newly announced cost of living payments by Government, including the €100 increase on the Back to School Allowance. She also supported the €100 bonus child welfare payment, set to be introduced this June.
However, Linda said that the failure to grant working families the fuel allowance came as a blow to herself and other families. She added that the expansion of the fuel allowance criteria would have helped out thousands of families across the country who are struggling with their bills.
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Linda told Dublin Live: "The failure to include working families on the fuel allowance was disappointing, especially when food and gas bills are already so crippling. I've noticed a huge increase in my grocery bill every week, no matter what supermarket I shop in."
Once off measures should be phased out in favour of long term increases to welfare payments, Linda believes. Families only gain security for a couple of weeks with these payments before they find themselves struggling to make ends meet once again.
Linda explained that government is sometimes oblivious to the struggles facing one parent families due to certain stereotypes. Linda said that it would be of huge societal benefit if government officials spent time with single parents to understand the predicaments they face.
Linda said: "I wish government would come sit with one parent families and see what it's like when there's only one person available to pay that gas bill or an unexpected expense. I think for too long that government has had a misconception about one parent families wanting things for free- we just want to keep our heads above water when we don't have someone else to lean on for financial support."
The government also confirmed that the Hot Meals programme in disadvantaged schools would be extended from September, benefiting upwards of 60,000 children. There will also be a €200 lump sum issued to people on the Working Family Payment this April.
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