Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Sep 1995

Vol. 455 No. 8

Written Answers. - Maintenance Order Statistics.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

247 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Justice the number of maintenance orders awarded by Irish courts in each year for the past five years; the average rate of payment under such orders; and the rate of default on such payments. [12651/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Court statistics are maintained on the basis of the legal year which runs from 1 August to 31 July. Maintenance orders are granted by the District and Circuit Courts. Of the information sought in the question, all that is available is the number of maintenance orders granted in the District Court in each of the past five legal years which is as follows:—

1989/90	—	1,701
1990/91	—	1,789
1991/92	—	1,856
1992/93	—	2,241
1993/94	—	2,241

The rest of the information sought could be compiled only by the allocation of scarce staff resources from other more important tasks, which would not be warranted. However, other information which is available and which may be of interest to the Deputy is the number of cases in which proceedings were taken in the District Court, under the Enforcement of Court Orders Act, 1940, in respect of arrears arising from any maintenance order and is as follows:—

1989/90	—	960
1990/91	—	926
1991/92	—	972
1992/93	—	1,166
1993/94	—	1,237

In line with the Taoiseach's commitment regarding questions put down for answer on 6 July 1995, I issued a written response to the Deputy on 11 July 1995.