Claire Kerrane
Ceist:1267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice the number of child maintenance orders which result in zero payment. [15392/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 24 March 2021
Ceisteanna (1267)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland. The Group is chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from my Department and the Department of Justice.
The Group's Terms of Reference includes considering and making recommendations on the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department. The Group is also tasked with considering and making recommendations on the liable relatives provisions associated with the One-Parent Family Payment which my Department operates, and whether or not there is a case for the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.
The work of the Group is well underway. I am very pleased that the Group launched its public consultation on 11th February. The consultation process which runs until 26th March provides an important opportunity for stakeholders, whether they are individuals or groups, to provide information, experiences and different perspectives on the areas under consideration. These submissions will help to inform the review and the recommendations which the Group will present to me later this year.
Furthermore, in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, my Department has put in place specific measures for the non-payment of maintenance in relation to One-Parent Family and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment customers.
In these cases, the customer should contact their local Intreo Centre and provide it with a letter stating that they are no longer receiving the maintenance payment from the other parent. Their payment will revised for a period of twelve weeks after which it will be reviewed again.