The government's decision to make cuts to the One-Parent Family Payment has been met with further criticism by lone parent groups today.

The policy change, which went into effect today, state that once the child of a lone parent turns seven-years-old, they would transition from the one-parent family scheme into an alternative welfare payment.

The Department of Social Protection previously asserted that the overwhelming majority of lone parents, who were due to be affected by the change in policy, would “suffer no income loss or may actually gain as they transition onto other supports."

This has been furiously refuted by lone parents and support groups who insist the government is forcing them into financial difficulties they are incapable of overcoming, with one devastated mother asserting: "I'm trying to hide the news from my daughter as best I can because she'd be terrified, so I'm just going to have to try and make ends meet some other way."

Commenting on the cuts which have caused much controversy in the Dáil this week, Independent Senator, Ger Craughwell, spoke out on behalf of devastated lone parents, saying: "This is the blackest day for lone parents that this country has seen since the Magdalene Laundries. Their rents are rising, they have water charges, they have all the same charges that the rest of us have to live with. This is simply not good enough."

Mr. Craughwell organised an impromptu press conference today in order to protest the cuts which an Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, recently suggested  may function as an incentive to seek employment,

While expecting a reduction in benefits this week, many lone parents were also stunned to find themselves without any welfare payment at all as a result of the changes.

Commenting on the backlash, the Department said it intends to engage with those affected in order "to inform them of the full range of work, education, training and childcare options available to them and to assist them towards increasing their hours of employment."

Also speaking out against the cuts was Sinn Féin deputy leader, Mary Lou Mc Donald, who called for a reversal of the cuts until adequate childcare is put in place.

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