
2,173 lone parents in the midlands received the payment last year.
A children's charity's calling for single parents to get an increase in their social welfare payments because of the pandemic.
Nearly 40,000 people got the One-Parent Family Payment last year, at a total cost of 533 million euro.
That includes 807 people in Westmeath, 716 in Laois, and 650 recipients in Offaly.
The scheme is capped at 203 euro a week for a parent, but Barnardos says it should be increased because of the Covid-19 crisis.
Chief executive Suzanne Connolly says other supports are also needed for lone parents at this time:
Local figures: https://t.co/1htaZdOW2M
— Midlands103 (@Midlands103) May 14, 2020