Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1023. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection whether she has assessed the level of non-payment to single mothers of maintenance due, and the hardship it causes; if her Department has assessed the possibility of the state becoming more involved in the enforcement of such payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38207/23]
View answerThe Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published last November. The Government accepted the Group's recommendations in relation to the social welfare system. I am pleased to say that, pending the introduction of the necessary legislation, my Department has already implemented some of the recommended changes on an administrative basis.
My Department is no longer applying the "efforts to seek maintenance" requirement to One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. This had been done on an administrative basis since the end of last year; however, I have since signed a Regulation to remove this requirement from the statutory provisions.
In addition, the liable relative provisions are not being applied to new claims for One-Parent Family Payment. This means that my Department will no longer seek to recoup a portion of claim costs from the non-resident parent in these cases. I want to be very clear that removing these provisions does not replace or supersede the primary responsibility of parents to maintain their children.
Furthermore, child maintenance payments will be disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments. This measure will mean that many lone parents currently on reduced rates of payment will see their payment increase and 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 at a cost of approximately €10 million per year.
Work to remove the liable relatives provisions and the means test is at an advanced stage. These changes require amendments to both primary and secondary legislation as well as changes to some of my Department’s systems, application forms and processes. In terms of the changes to primary legislation, draft heads have been referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny in the coming weeks. In the meantime, as I have already mentioned, on an administrative basis, the liable relative provisions are not being applied to new claims.
There was no consensus among the Group members regarding the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency and there are no plans to establish such a body. My Department has no role with regard to the enforcement of maintenance orders. The Minister for Justice is planning significant reforms in the family justice area. I am particularly pleased that the Family Justice Strategy includes a commitment to undertake a review of the enforcement of maintenance orders. I understand that this is ongoing and due to be completed in the coming months.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
