Press release
Minister Doherty Announces Establishment of Child Maintenance Review Group
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Group to consider and make recommendations on the establishment of a child maintenance agency in Ireland
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D. today informed the Government that she is establishing a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine a number of issues regarding child maintenance. Specifically, the group will be tasked with examining whether there is a case for the establishment of a child maintenance agency in Ireland. It will be chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy.
Minister Doherty said:
“I am very pleased to have secured €150,000 in the Budget last October for my Department to examine international best practice in relation to maintenance payments and to examine how Ireland can achieve better outcomes in a proactive manner for families. This funding will be used to support the review group in its work.
“I am particularly pleased that the former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy will chair the review group. The proposed membership of the group will be announced in the coming days and will include legal, policy and academic professionals, and officials from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Justice and Equality.”
Under existing Family Law legislation, parents are obliged to maintain their children. In cases where the family unit has broken down these obligations continue to apply. Relevant maintenance payments can be arranged either directly between the parties themselves, or with the assistance of supports such as the Family Mediation Service and the Legal Aid Board, or ultimately through the Courts.
Social Welfare legislation provides that where certain welfare payments are in place (specifically, One-Parent Family Payment) a ‘liable relative’ may be required to make a contribution in respect of the cost of this payment. In every case where the One-Parent Family Payment is awarded, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection seeks to trace the other parent or liable relative in order to ascertain whether they are in a financial position to contribute towards the cost of the One Parent-Family Payment.
The purpose of the Child Maintenance Review Group is to consider and make recommendations on:
It is envisaged that the Group will undertake a public consultation exercise as part of its work.
The group will report to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection by the end of 2020.
ENDS