Hidden fathers: an exploratory study of young single fathers at the margins.

Rapid social and demographic changes have brought about the diversity of family types including the presence of a significant number of lone-parent families. For the state as a whole just over 21 per cent (98,304) of all family units, where there is at least one dependent child under the age of 15, is headed by a lone-parent. For Limerick City the corresponding figure is 39 per cent (2,308). The equivalent statistic, for the parishes targeted by the PAUL Partnership is higher and ranges from 42 per cent in St Munchin's Parish to 63.9 per cent in Moyross Parish (Appendix A).