SPARK,a group campaigning on behalf of single parents,have called a protest for Saturday 18 February, meeting 2pm at Garden of Remembrance. Group organisers say thecampaign has been growing in support and numbers, and this week after Minister Joan Burton issued her letter to single parents in Ireland, more parents are looking to vent their anger. Single parents were the group the government taught was an easy target to cut, they underestimated angry parents.

The policy Institute at Trinity College and Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice have now used international criteria to establish a minimum standard of living for Irish families and individuals. The research found that low income and unemployed families don't have enough money to achieve a basic standard of living. Ireland was ranked as the fourth most socially unjust country in the developed world. Research prior to this new study found children of lone parents have the highest rates of consistent poverty or ''at risk'' of poverty than any other segment of society, including the elderly, disabled or unemployed.

The recent budget hit single parents the hardest with multiple cuts, which will inflict further poverty for the children of one parent households. SPARK campaign is a group of single parents who came together after recent budget, and will campaign and protest to highlight the discrimination of single parents in this country. Ireland has a long and shameful record in terms of social injustice, and more so when it comes to single parents. The government must stand up and protect the most vulnerable in our society.

Single Mother Leah Speight says '' The severity of the cuts has sparked outrage in single parents. We are a group who face stereotyping and stigma, and our children are suffering. If Joan Burtons proposals are not stopped, this country should be ashamed of the poverty that will be inflicted on thousands of children. Single parents will not be hushed anymore.''