Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to Deputy Willie O'Dea's question, I do not know why the maintenance recovery division does not operate after a child reaches the age of seven years, but I will find out. The Deputy is aware that under section 12 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, we have the ability, through the maintenance recovery division, to go after somebody for maintenance. To be honest, I question why we even do that. The whole idea in having a Department of Social Protection is to protect people who are vulnerable. There may be a requirement to establish a national maintenance agency, but, to be honest, I do not see where it would fall into the space of my Department. The issue will form part of the exploratory work we will do in the coming weeks.

In response to Deputy Ruth Coppinger, I have two comments to make, one of which will go some way towards also answering Deputy Catherine Connolly's question. There are clear protocols in place for any woman - in the main, we are talking about women, although, obviously, there are some exceptions - who comes to our office looking to receive the one-parent family payment and who is in a vulnerable position. My job is to lead a Department that believes women, not one that makes a woman to prove something or get a piece of paper but one that listens to her story and believes her. If there is any woman who is finding it difficult, it may be because front-line staff have not received the correct training, but that issue is being resolved. I assure Deputy Catherine Connolly that it will not be me who will devise the training course but Women's Aid which has specific knowledge and experience. Its trainers, with their specific knowledge, training and experience, will train our staff.

To answer the Deputy's question about the letter, because of the way the law stands, parents have a responsibility to their children. The State does not step in to take over that responsibility where parents have the means and ability to be responsible for their children. Therefore, letters will be sent. However, I suggest such letters be sent to the neglectful parent rather than the parent who is raising the children. Again, that issue will form part of the discussions we will have in the coming weeks.

There are clear protocols in place. We do believe women and I will not tolerate a situation where we do not. No woman who expresses the view that she is in a vulnerable position will receive a letter. However, there are other letters that are sent by the maintenance recovery division and we need to have a wider conversation about whether a national agency is required to provide for maintenance recovery and, more importantly, whether my Department should have any hand, act or part in that process. That is the course of the conversation that should have in the coming weeks. On the actions I have taken, the letters will be modified. I hope the language used in them will never cause the distress caused in the last week. The IT systems will change. When a person presents at a local office to relate his or her experience, without a shadow of a doubt, he or she will be believed, and the IT systems will reflect this in order that no person in a vulnerable position will receive one of the Department's letters. We will also pursue the provision of training for all of our staff who, in the main, provide an empathetic and human response and try to provide people with assistance during periods of their lives in which they cannot afford to mind themselves.

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