Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the report of the child maintenance review group will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50416/22]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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The purpose of this question is to ask the Minister for an update on the report completed by the child maintenance review group, which, I understand, was furnished to her at Easter. Perhaps she might be able to tell us a little about that report, what stage it is at and when it will be published.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this issue. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government , the Government established a child maintenance review group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland. The group's terms of reference were to consider and make recommendations on: the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department; the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department; and the establishment of a child maintenance agency in Ireland. As part of its work, the group conducted a public consultation process. Submissions were received from members of the public, as well as Members of the Oireachtas, NGOs and professional bodies. The group also examined the international position where there are a variety of different approaches taken to these matters.

The group's report was submitted to me in April. I am giving the report the careful consideration that such an important and complex issue deserves. Given that it relates to issues which are beyond the scope of the social welfare system, I am also consulting Government colleagues. Once the report has been fully considered, my intention is to bring it to Government before the end of this year, at which time a decision regarding a publication date will be made.

As lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty, I was pleased to provide a number of measures in budget 2023 which will be of benefit to them. Recipients of one-parent family payment and jobseeker's transitional payment will be amongst those who receive a double weekly payment in October and a 100% Christmas bonus in December. Lone parents will also receive a double payment of child benefit in November. Approximately half of the people who receive the €500 cost-of-living lump sum payment which will be made to recipients of the working family payment in November will be lone parents.

I have also provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the working family payment from January. Lone parents will also benefit from the increase of €12 in the weekly rate of working-age payments in January. The rate of increase for a qualified child will increase to €42 and €50 per week in respect of a qualified child aged under or over 12, respectively.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister stated, lone-parent families are in deep poverty. They show very high levels across the board, from at risk of poverty to risk of deprivation, living in deprivation and experiencing deprivation. The consistent poverty rate remains far too high. It is much higher than it should be in any case.

The Minister will also know lone parent organisations, both One Family and Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids, SPARK, have voiced deep disappointment in respect of the budget. Many of the measures the Minister outlined, including those relating to child benefit and the working family payment, are not specific to lone-parent families. Aside from the weekly increase they, along with all other social welfare recipients, will receive from January, there was nothing targeted at them in the context of the level of poverty they experience.

I am disappointed that the Minister has had the report since April, that we still have not seen it and that we will not now see it until perhaps the end of the year at the earliest. Is there any chance for movement on that, particularly in view of the fact that the organisations are obviously waiting for this report?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Lone parents will get considerable support as part of the social welfare package that we announced only two weeks ago. For example, a lone parent with two children will get two double payments of the one-parent family payment - that will be €416 - before Christmas. If they are a working family, they will get the €500 working family payment. They will get an extra €280 on child benefit. They will get a €12 increase in the one-parent family payment from 1 January. That is an extra €624 over a full year. That is an extra €1,820 going into their pockets as a result of this budget. Over a year, that works out as an extra €35 per week.

I am aware that Deputy Kerrane has a strong interest in this area regarding child maintenance review. The Deputy has raised it with me on a number of occasions. In fairness to the group, which was chaired by Judge Catherine Murphy, it took 18 months or so to look at this matter. They went through all the issues in great detail and they invited submissions from all the stakeholders. It is clear from their report that they gave a lot of consideration to all of the different issues. There are many issues here, both in the social protection space and also in that relating to the Department of Justice. The group looked at all of those issues and it gave them detailed consideration. I have given the report detailed consideration over the past few months. I will act on the report. I want to do that.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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The report is done. The Minister has had since April to consider it. I believe that she will move on it. I welcome that. However, it would be good if we all, especially the organisations involved, could see the report because up until now - and certainly up until the group was established in 2020 - there has not been that sense of urgency around child maintenance and the establishment of a child maintenance service can only be positive. When maintenance is paid, all evidence shows that it can play a role in lifting children in lone-parent families out of poverty. That, in itself, should be enough to move swiftly in respect of this matter. The latter is something that SPARK and One Family are seeking. I mention One Family because it is celebrating 50 years in existence today. I commend One Family and SPARK on the work they do. However, like me, they are anxious to see this report. Now that the report is complete and the good work has been done, it can only be of benefit that report be published sooner rather than later.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I also wish One Family well as it celebrates a significant anniversary.

I met with the chair of this group, Judge Murphy, and spoke to her. She is formidable. She is a thorough lady. That conversation has been useful to me. I have spoken with my colleagues, the Ministers for Justice and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputies McEntee and O'Gorman, because there are issues at play in respect of both of their Departments. I can say honestly that it is not my intention to delay this, but the Deputy will appreciate there are major issues involved. I want to get it right. That is most important. I must also consult with my Government colleagues.

I know the situation. We talked about this previously. There is nothing worse than somebody who should be paying maintenance paying a week, missing a week, paying another week and then missing five or six weeks. It is a mess. It is terrible for the person who is depending on that money. I want to help here. I want to see how we can improve it. In fairness, it has been a busy couple of months between pensions, budgets, auto-enrolment and the cost of living, but I am dealing with it now.