Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
889. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the reform of the child maintenance system; if she will address key issues such as calculation, facilitation and enforcement guided by international best practice and in view of the findings of the Murphy review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32987/20]
View answerThe Government has established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland. The Group is being chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality.
The Group is focusing on the current treatment of child maintenance payments and the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department and will also examine the case for the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency. The work of the Group is still underway and it is not expected to issue its findings until next year.
