Press release
Minister Humphreys and Minister McEntee publish the Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, and Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, have today published the Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group.
The group was established by the government to examine a range of issues relating to child maintenance in Ireland. It was chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy, and included policy, legal and academic professionals.
On foot of the report, the government has this week agreed to take a number of immediate actions to support lone parents.
In relation to the treatment of Child Maintenance within the Social Welfare system:
In relation to Child Maintenance within the Courts System:
Announcing the changes today, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said:
“I am pleased today, along with Minister McEntee, to announce the publication of the Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group.
“I would like to sincerely thank the Chair, Judge Catherine Murphy, and the other members of the Group for their detailed work in relation to these important and complex issues.
“On foot of the report, I am pleased to say that the government has approved changes to implement all of the Group’s recommendations in respect of Child Maintenance within the Social Welfare system.
“The decision to disregard Child Maintenance Payments from the Social Welfare means test will support lone parents and will mean that many parents currently on reduced rates of payment will now see their payment increase.
“As part of the reforms, I am also removing the need for lone parents to seek maintenance as part of their claim. This often involved having to go to Court and so it will remove an additional stress on lone parents, some of whom have come through difficult relationship breakdowns. It will also help to reduce the burden on our courts system.”
Commenting on the Family Law measures announced today, the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee said:
“I am determined to overhaul the operation of the family justice system, to ensure we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court system that puts the family and children at the centre of its work. This is a key commitment in my Justice Plan 2022 and today marks an important milestone in that process.”
The Child Maintenance Review Group was tasked with considering and making recommendations on:
As part of its work, the Group conducted an extensive public consultation process and examined international practice.
The Report, approved for publication by the government this week, sets out the recommendations of the Group.
In terms of social welfare changes, the Group recommended that:
The government has this week accepted all of these recommendations and the Minister for Social Protection and her department will now start work on the necessary legislation to implement them.
On the question of the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency, the Group did not reach a consensus:
The government has approved major reform of the family courts system in Ireland. As part of these reforms which Minister McEntee has announced today, the Department of Justice will also undertake a review of Child Maintenance Orders to ensure they are effective. The department will also examine the feasibility of introducing guideline on Child Maintenance amounts.
There have been some calls for Ireland to introduce a similar style Child Maintenance Service to what is in place in the UK and Northern Ireland.
An independent report from the National Audit Office in the UK recently found that: