Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2023
318. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if his Department intends to introduce a system, independent of the courts, to enforce payment child maintenance orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5811/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, on 16 November, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee published the Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group.
On foot of its recommendations, a number of very significant reforms of the social welfare system in this field have been introduced, which will be of great benefit to lone parents.
In particular, as a result of its recommendations, child maintenance payments will be disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments. Lone parents are a particularly vulnerable group and this measure will mean that many parents currently on reduced rates of payment will see their payments increase.
It will also mean that some additional lone parents will qualify for a payment. It is estimated that this measure will be of direct benefit to approximately 16,000 lone parents, amounting to approximately €10 million per year.
The "efforts to seek maintenance" requirement will also be removed from the one-parent family payment and jobseeker's transitional payment. This requirement often involves having to go to court. This change will remove an additional stress for lone parents and will help to reduce the burden on our courts system.
In relation to the issue of child maintenance within the courts generally, the Department of Justice will undertake a review of the enforcement of child maintenance orders as an action in the Family Justice Strategy. This review will examine the scope for reform including examining whether measures can be taken to enhance the enforcement process. This work is already underway and is due to be completed this year.
