KDH: Single Parents Put on Waiting Lists by Tomas; Ministry Rejects Criticism

Bratislava, 3 August (TASR) - The much-heralded 'historic and innovative support' for single parents devised by the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry has in practice turned into a bureaucratic failure and a dysfunctional system, the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) stated on Monday, adding that instead of prompt financial support, thousands of parents in need have been put on waiting lists, while the project's capacity has been paralysed by a critical shortage of staff. According to KDH, of the total package of more than €7 million from EU funds, only just under 40 percent (approximately €3 million) is being channeled into direct financial assistance. Most of the funds are being spent on operating costs, coordination and civil servants' salaries. KDH also claimed that the project has completely failed in terms of staffing. For a total of 46 comprehensive support centres across Slovakia, the Labour Ministry allocated just 22 case managers, which immediately brought operations at the offices to a standstill, added the party. The Labour Ministry has responded to the criticism. "Unlike previous governments in which KDH was a partner, this government is attempting to provide the first-ever targeted support for single parents. This consists of a pilot project entitled 'Support for Single Parents - A Different Approach to Counselling', as well as systemic measures which KDH didn't support in Parliament," the ministry's press office told TASR in a response. "We'd like to emphasise once again that the 'Support for Single Parents - A Different Approach to Counselling' project is a pilot scheme whose primary aim is to provide counselling and long-term support to single parents, which they will also receive at comprehensive support centres. We've drawn on the expertise of the 'Jeden rodic', 'MyMamy' and 'Centrum Slniecko' organisations, which have long been dedicated to supporting single parents and are also partners in this project," emphasised the ministry. According to the Labour Ministry, the fundamental principle is to help single parents stand on their own two feet. "The provision of a temporary allowance is only a secondary aspect of this project, which we have clearly communicated from the outset," it emphasised. am/df