Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1015. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of cases the liable relatives’ unit and maintenance recovery unit have examined since January 2020 to date; the breakdown of payments commenced and payments not commenced, respectively; and the amount collected in this time. [15389/21]
View answerThe issue of family maintenance payments is first and foremost a private matter for the people concerned.
Social Welfare legislation provides that some or all of the cost of One-Parent Family (OFP) payments are recovered. In every case where OFP is awarded, the Department seeks to trace the other parent (liable relative) in order to ascertain whether they are in a financial position to contribute towards the cost of the OFP. Liable relatives are advised that they can meet their liability by making payments directly to the Department or to the OFP recipient.
The methods of assessment of the liable relative's ability to pay are specified in detail in regulations S.I. 571 of 2006 and S.I. 142 of 2007, as amended.
From January 2020 to end February 2021 (latest complete data available) 7,321 cases were examined of which:
- 708 (9.7%) were deemed to be paying the liability agreed by the Department
- 2,842 (38.8%) of these cases were still determined to have a remaining liability to the Department;
- 3,771 (51.5%) cases not eligible or have no liability due.
During this period, 1,305 arrangements were made whereby payments or additional payments were made to the One-Parent Family Payment recipient averaging €49.66 per week. In a further 53 cases, the liable relatives began paying the Department directly at an average weekly payment of €72.89.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
