One Family

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection; Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To express our concern about Ireland’s continued delay in finalising an EU-mandated national Social Climate Plan, which is a central requirement under the EU’s Social Climate Fund. Delayed submission will mean delays in Ireland’s ability to access and deploy EU funding from 2026. This funding is intended to support households and communities in responding to risingenergy and transport costs, particularly in the context of carbon pricing.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Sinéad Gibney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Gogarty (Councillor), South Dublin County Council; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robert O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Patricia Stephenson (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Lobby to help prevent the rise in family homelessness by increasing housing assistance payments in line with market rents and increasing funding for tenant-in-situ scheme.::Lobby to ensure the inclusion of one-parent families as a named group in government’s new Child & Family Homelessness Action Plan.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Sinéad Gibney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Gogarty (Councillor), South Dublin County Council; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robert O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Patricia Stephenson (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Lobby for greater out-of-court supports for separated parents to help avoid adversarial proceedings in the family courts.::Lobby for improved funding for specialist services providing supports to separated families and those experiencing domestic abuse and coercive control

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Sinéad Gibney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Gogarty (Councillor), South Dublin County Council; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robert O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Patricia Stephenson (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Request a move from a “work-activation” government approach for lone parents on social protection to an evidence-based “education-first” one. This would address high levels of in-work poverty and create long-term savings for government, along with financial security for families.::Extend Jobseekers Transitional Payment for lone parents until their youngest child is 18.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Sinéad Gibney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Gogarty (Councillor), South Dublin County Council; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoin Hayes (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robert O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Patricia Stephenson (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Extend the Jobseekers Transitional Payment until the youngest child turns eighteen.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Síona Cahill (Special Adviser), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Intent: Asked for a meeting with the Minister for Housing or other Department officials. Email included a copy of our One Family submission to the Dept re Family Homelessness consultation as well as an email our One Family helpline team received from a lone parent that really helps demonstrate the negative impacts that rent increases, housing insecurity and subsequent increased risk of homelessness are having on one-parent families across the country.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Lynn Ruane (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To publish research related to lone parents experience of higher education and outline the positives and challenges that students who are parenting alone can face and what supports they require.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To find out timeline for EU funding stream that could be used to fund New Futures Programme, as the funding was due some time ago and there is still no update to date.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Craig Dwyer (Special Advisor), Department of Social Protection; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection

Intent: To meet with the Minister to discuss the main issues impacting lone parent families who are in receipt of a social welfare payment(s) and request changes are made to improve income inadequacy for these families.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Craig Dwyer (Special Adviser), Department of Social Protection; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection

Intent: That the Minister for Social Protection become more aware of the structural issues within the social welfare system that impact on income adequacy for one-parent families.

Methods: Email