Where a spouse fails to maintain the other spouse or any dependent children the law provides that the court may, on application to it, make an order for payment of maintenance. The maximum weekly amount that may be ordered by the District Court is £200 per week for the support of a spouse and £60 per week for the support of a child. There are no limits on the amounts that may be awarded by the Circuit Court. In determining the amount of any payment the court must have regard to all the circumstances of the case including the income, earning capacity, if any, property or other financial resources of either spouse and any children. Income includes social welfare payments, with the exception of certain allowances such as supplementary welfare allowance. The law in this area is prescribed in the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976. I have initiated some important changes to that Act in the Family Law Bill, 1994, at present before the Seanad having been passed by this House. However, I have no evidence to suggest that the law needs to be amended in the way that appears to be suggested by the question. The criteria set out in the Act for the making of maintenance orders by the court are based on what is fair to all parties and the court is already precluded from taking into account certain social welfare payments such as supplementary welfare allowance.