Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply and I agree that more work must be done to pursue fathers to ensure they contribute to the maintenance of their children. Can he tell us about the work being done in the area? What measures does the Department take to pursue fathers and how successful is it? Obviously it is not very successful so where are we falling down?

It is not just about maintenance, it is about the social aspect of having fathers involved in the upbringing of their children. It is important not just for the children but for fathers. The child, however, should be at the heart of this and that must be our starting point. I support the Minister in doing whatever he can to improve this area so we can come to a successful conclusion for both the father and the child, ultimately helping the mother and reducing the cost to the State.