Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022
328. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of one-parent family payment claimants who were exempt from efforts to seek maintenance conditions due to domestic abuse and risk from a former partner. [10703/22]
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.
In 2021, Liable Relatives Unit were made aware of 418 cases where a Barring Order/risk of domestic abuse existed. In these case’s the Liable Relative was not contacted to contribute towards the cost of the OFP.
I trust that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
