Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
301. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection when the legislation involving child maintenance payments being excluded from social welfare means tests will be signed into law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49822/23]
View answerThe Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published last November and the Government has accepted the Group's recommendations regarding the social welfare system. The Government accepted the Group's recommendations in relation to the social welfare system. These changes will decouple child maintenance and social welfare and are significant reforms, which will be of great benefit to lone parents.
As a consequence, 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.
These changes require amendments to both primary and secondary legislation as well as changes to some of the Department’s systems, application forms and processes. In terms of the changes to primary legislation, the draft Heads of Bill have undergone pre-legislative scrutiny at the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and work on drafting the Bill is at an advanced stage. It is my intention to publish the legislation before the end of this year.
I trust this clarifies the position.
