Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Kerrane, Martin Kenny, Mairéad Farrell and Gould for their contributions on this debate and for their interest in this important topic. We have had a useful debate. We all understand the importance of child maintenance and want to improve the system. The liable relative provisions that are operated by the Department of Social Protection are just one element of that system.

I reiterate the Government's commitment to reform of the child maintenance system. It was because of this commitment that the Government established the child maintenance review group. The group has been tasked with considering and making recommendations on the current treatment of child maintenance payments by the Department of Social Protection, the current provision with regard to liable relatives, managed by the Department of Social Protection, and the establishment of a child maintenance agency in Ireland. As I mentioned earlier, the work of the group is being informed by the submissions, inclusive of the one made by Deputy Kerrane's party, to the consultation process. The group is also examining the international position. I acknowledge that the group was due to report to the Minister last year. Deputy Kerrane and many others, including many Deputies on the Government benches, are keen to find out what the group will recommend. We are advised that the report is expected to be presented to the Minister by Easter. I hope it is progressed as quickly as possible.

The Bill aims to extend the liable relative provisions operated by the Department of Social Protection to the jobseeker's transitional payment, a set of provisions expressly covered by the group's terms of reference. It is reasonable for us to await the outcome of the group's work to see what recommendations it might make in regard to the liable relative provisions and its other terms of reference. We must allow the group to complete its work. In taking action now in regard to a set of provisions which the group was specifically tasked to examine, we would be undermining the group and its work. The Government will also need an opportunity to reflect on the group's recommendations before deciding how to move forward. There are inter-linkages between issues being examined by the group and so it is prudent to wait and consider the group's recommendations as a whole. This is preferable to making changes in this area without knowing what recommendations the group might make not just in regard to the liable relative provisions but the other matters under its remit.

A number of Deputies referred to this Bill having been introduced on previous occasions. In 2018 and 2019, there was no child maintenance review in place. That is a key difference between then and now. The liable relative provisions do not make maintenance arrangements for people and provisions are intended to arrange a contribution to the cost of the one-parent family payment. The efforts to seek maintenance provisions which Deputies mentioned are separate provisions and these are also being reviewed by the child maintenance review group.

The Government is acutely aware of the high rates of poverty experienced by lone parents. We have introduced a number of budget measures to assist those families. The rate for a qualified child has been increased to €40 per week for children under 12 and by €48 per week for children over 12. The income limit for the working family payment has been increased and will be further increased by €10 per week for all family sizes from April. Approximately half of all recipients of this payment are lone parents. The earnings limit was removed from the one-parent family payment last year. This removed a cliff edge for lone parents as their earnings increased.

I again thank Deputy Kerrane for bringing the Bill before the House. I thank all Deputies for their contributions on this important issue. I look forward to future debates on this and related issues. I will bring Deputy Kerrane's views and concerns to the attention of the Minister. As rightly stated by the Deputy, we are all awaiting this report. I hope it will be presented to the Minister by Easter.

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