Changes announced in the Budget to the one-parent family payment will expose some of the most vulnerable households to a significant income drop, Fianna Fáil said.

The party’s spokesman on social protection Barry Cowen said that through changes to criteria and income eligibility, the Government had “actually cut welfare payments to one of the most vulnerable sections of society”.

He said the Programme for Government had committed to “maintain social welfare rates”.

It also promised that “over time”, the one-parent family payment would be replaced with a parental allowance that did not discourage marriage, cohabitation or work.

“The reductions come at a time when one parent families are at a significantly higher risk of poverty,” he said.

Mr Cowen said the paring back of the income eligibility criteria also penalised those single parents, primarily women, who were also trying to work, and condemning them to a welfare trap.

“Along with other cuts like the Job Seekers allowance and Fuel Allowance, the Government is trying to avoid headline changes while cynically introducing cutbacks through the back door by changing criteria. The reality is far darker however for those directly impacted by these changes.”

Fianna Fáil also said rural schools would bear a “disproportionate” cost of education cuts announced in the Budget.