Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Our Kids
S.P.A.R.K. is a diverse group of single parents living in Ireland who have united together to protect our children from the radical policy changes introduced in Budget 2012. We are here to raise awareness of the many challenges one-parent families currently face and to identify the essential supports needed to allow us equal participation in society. We assert the rights of our children to be treated equally and demand acknowledgement and recognition of our family status. We actively challenge stereotyping of our familes. We oppose any economic, social, legal or political policies that have a detrimental effect on our children or on us as single parents. We seek equality for children regardless of their family circumstances.
If you would like to assist our campaign all donations gratefully accepted. Alternatively, you could send the following letter to your local TDs: PDF and Word
Is grúpa ilghnéitheach tuismitheoirí aonair atá ina gcónaí in Éireann é
SPARK. Tá muid tagtha le chéile chun ár leanaí a chosaint ó na hathruithe
beartas radacacha atá ag teacht isteach faoi cháinaisnéis 2012.
Tá muid anseo chun aird a dhíriú ar na dúshláin atá ann do theaghlaigh
aontuismitheora agus ar na tacaí atá riachtanach chun páirt a ghlacadh i
sochaí na tíre.
Tá muid ag lorg cothrom na féinne dár leanaí
agus tá muid ar thóir aitheantais ar stádas ár dteaghlaigh.
Tá muid ag cur go láidir i gcoinne an stéiréitíopáil atá á dhéanamh ar ár
dteaghlaigh. Ní thacaimíd le beartas eacnamaíochta, sóisialta, dlíthiúil
nó polaitiúil ar bith a bhfuil droch-thionchar aige ar ár leanaí nó orainn
féin mar thuismitheoirí aonair. Tá muid ag lorg cothrom na féinne do
leanaí cibé cineál teaghlach as a dtagann siad.
News
Joan Burtons School of Hard Knocks
Time not right for Single Working Age Payment, says Oireachtas committee
The introduction of a Single Working Age Payment should be delayed, according to a new report by the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education.
The proposal to merge all working age social assistance schemes into one payment was raised by Minister Joan Burton and examined by the committee.
While the committee approves of such a payment, it has recommended that it should not be introduced yet because the necessary supports are not in place.
In the absence of sufficient quality jobs and activation opportunities, the report found that any implementation of the payment would merely serve to “cut the incomes of vulnerable groups who are already recognised to be at higher risk of poverty”.
Written by Aengus Ó Snodaigh, the report urges the Minister to maintain the value of the existing benefits.
Ó Snodaigh said, “In theory, a single payment has many benefits where the necessary supports and services are in place.
The merging of all working age social assistance schemes into a single payment may be considered the greatest single change to the Irish social welfare system since the foundation of the State. Therefore, the Committee feels that it should be deferred until sufficient job opportunities exist and adequate supports are in place, especially for single parents and people with disabilities.
The report also recommends that carers should not be included in any single payment scheme. As a suggestion for a part-solution in the shorter term, the committee said a reformed Family Income Supplement, as an in-work benefit, could be considered.
The committee added that any programme of social welfare reform must be driven by an “explicit anti-poverty and gender equality objective”.- Taken from TheJournal.ie
Joan Burtons School of Hard Knocks
On Thursday 15th Feb, SPARK will host Joan Burton's School of Hard Knocks outside Daíl Eireann on Kildare street, Dublin 2. For further information, please see our events page.
Tonight with Vincent Brown
On Thursday 16th Feb, Vincent Browne dedicated a program to our campaign, with representatives from SPARK, OPEN, Senator Jillian VanTurnhout, Mick Wallace, Joanne Tuffy and John McGuirk.
SPARK Presentation to Daíl
On Weds 15th Feb, a group representing SPARK were invited by Senator Jillian VanTurnhout to give a short presentation on behalf of SPARK on the impacts of Budget 2012 on single parents in Ireland.
I have attached the presentation here in PDF format.
Spark Send Valentines To Joan Burton
OPF Review letters sent to 90,000 OPF reciepients
Here is a link to a radio interview with OPEN's Francis Byrne on the letter to be sent out to all OPF recipients, detailing all the cuts to single parents and the new income disregard. Fight these cuts by Standing with us on the 18th Feb 2012 at our mass protest at the Garden of Rememberence, Dublin 1 at 2pm. For further information, please contact us on info@sparkcampaign.com.
Some of our SPARK Reps have also been on radio stations all over the country. Here is Andrea Gagley on Liffey Sound FM.
Ó Snodaigh meets SPARK campaign group in preparation for report on Single Working Age Payment
January 26, 2012
Sinn Féin Social Protection Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has today met with the campaign group SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of our Kids).
Deputy Ó Snodaigh met the group as part of the consultation process for his report on the Single Working Age Payment for the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection.
Speaking after the meeting today, Deputy Ó Snodaigh said:
“The Single Working Age Payment could be the single biggest change to our social welfare system in the history of the State.
“I am delighted to have been appointed rapporteur for the committee to compile a report on the consequences of amalgamating all social welfare payments into one single payment.
“I have been meeting groups that would be most affected by such a move, including SPARK who have been doing great work on behalf of single parents throughout the state.
“It is important that all of those affected are afforded an opportunity to voice their opinion on such a fundamental proposal.”
Email received this evening from Mr Ó Snodaigh
Email recieved this evening from Minister O Snodaigh
A chairde,
I know there has been some confusion out there about this particular cut. the below information may be of use to you.
is mise,
Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Sinn Féin Whip and Spokesperson on Social Protection
Question No: 124 Ref No: 4451/12
To the Minister for Social Protection
To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm from which principle payment that is community employment payment or one-parent family payment, is the qualified child increase being cut; and the date from which it will be cut.
- Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 25th January, 2012.
REPLY
Minister for Social Protection (Joan Burton TD)
As per the Budget 2012 announcement, payment of two qualified child increases per child where the person is on a Community Employment scheme and in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit/Allowance or Widow(er)s Pension will be discontinued for NEW and EXISTING recipients. The actual child increase payment that will cease is from the CE payment. The child allowance under the social welfare payment will continue. The effective date for this is Monday 20th February. This is to allow time for notification to be sent to all affected parties.
“I have been meeting groups that would be most affected by such a move including SPARK who have been doing great work on behalf of single parents throughout the state.
“It is important that all of those affected are afforded an opportunity to voice their opinion on such a fundamental proposal.”
There have also been significant changes made to the CE Schemes. Here is a letter we recieved from Francis Byrne of OPEN detailing all the new changes.
