Vol. 396 No. 2
112 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of deserting husbands who have been pursued for maintenance by his Department as a result of the scheme announced by him in the Social Welfare Acts of 1988 and 1989.
The "liable relatives" provisions specified in Part III of the Social Welfare Act, 1989, are enabling provisions to be commenced on a date to be set by ministerial order when the administrative arrangements are formulated and put in place. Following enactment of the legislation, a departmental working group was set up which conducted a detailed examination of the many practical and delicate issues involved. These are complex and the group's conclusions are under examination in the Department at present.
The large scale replacement and movement of staff occasioned by the decentralisation of the operation of the deserted wife's schemes to Sligo has delayed progress in this matter. The matter will, however, be progressed as quickly as possible and the necessary commencement order will then be made.
