5000 lone parents will lose their One Family payment from today.

By July next year almost 60,000 families will have lost the One Family payment when their youngest child turns seven.

Advocates groups are calling on the Social Protection Minister not to proceed with the cuts.

Minister Joan Burton previously undertook not to proceed with the measures to reduce the upper age limit to seven

years - unless she got a credible and bankable commitment on the delivery of a bettery system of childcare.