Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to date in respect of the commitment in the programme for Government to examine the possibility of introducing a paternity benefit; the number of cross-departmental meetings that have been held; and when he expects the payment will be introduced. [12195/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for questions relating to entitlement to paternity leave rests with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The question of a social insurance funded payment for paternity leave would be contingent on an underlying entitlement to statutory parental leave.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the timescale proposed for the completion of the pilot projects arising from the discussion paper Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents; and when he expects to be in a position to bring proposals to Government. [12211/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will make amendments to the upcoming legislation affecting lone parent payments, in the wake of expressions of concern that the legislation will force single parents into work without providing adequate childcare. [12093/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he will act on the proposals contained in Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents; and the way he will coordinate services and address poverty traps associated with some of the proposals. [12194/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 100 and 122 together.

The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan to focus on lone parents; focused provision of childcare; improved information services for lone parents and the introduction of a new social assistance payment for low income families with young children. The paper also proposed the abolition of the cohabitation rule as a condition for receipt of the proposed social assistance payment.

Under the proposals, the contingency of lone parenthood would no longer exist. Instead, a new payment would be made to all parents (living alone or with a partner) with young children on low income. Issues such as the possible poverty traps caused by the initial income support proposals are currently being addressed within my Department.

As I have stated before, any proposed new payment can only be introduced when the necessary co-ordinated supports and services are put in place on the ground by other Departments and Agencies. This is why the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion has been tasked with bringing forward a plan on the key issues of childcare, education, training and activation measures.

The testing phase of the non-income measures contained in the discussion paper has ended and the outcome of the process is currently being considered in my Department. This will inform the further development of the proposals. I have asked that a number of issues be examined and I hope to bring the matter to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion in the coming months.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to extend entitlement to free travel. [12191/08]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will make a statement on a matter (details supplied). [11591/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 99 and 561 together.

The free travel scheme is available to all people living in the State aged 66 years or over. All carers in receipt of carer's allowance and carers of people in receipt of constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance, regardless of their age, receive a free travel pass. It is also available to people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain disability type welfare payments, such as disability allowance, invalidity pension and blind person's pension. People resident in the State who are in receipt of a social security invalidity or disability payment from a country covered by EU Regulations, or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, and who have been in receipt of this payment for at least 12 months, are also eligible for free travel.

The scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators.

The proposal to extend the free travel scheme to those aged under 66 with certain conditions who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment is one of a range of proposals made to extend the free travel scheme. Further extensions to the scheme could only be considered in a Budgetary context and taking account of the financial and other needs of those not covered by the existing arrangements.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will outline the work of the maintenance recovery unit of his Department; the number of cases dealt with by this unit in 2006 and 2007; the total amounts recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12214/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent of compliance with determination orders issued by his Department to parents for the upkeep of their children; the cost in 2005, 2006 and 2007 of his Department's activities in relation to unpaid maintenance; and the steps he is taking to improve compliance among parents and reduce costs to his Department. [12192/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 138 together.

The purpose of the Maintenance Recovery Unit (MRU) is to recover some or all of the moneys being expended on social welfare payments for lone parents. In every case where a one-parent family payment is awarded, the Maintenance Recovery Unit seeks to trace the other parent (liable relative) in order to ascertain whether he or she is in a financial position to contribute towards the cost of one-parent family payment. This follow-up activity takes place as soon as possible after the award of payment.

The methods of assessment of the liable relative's ability to pay are specified in detail in my Department's Regulations. The assessment is based on net income and certain allowances are deducted. Certain categories of liable relative are not pursued due to personal circumstances or because they have low incomes.

All liable relatives assessed with maintenance liability are issued with a Determination Order setting out the amount of contribution assessed. Decisions on the amounts assessed can be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

MRU pursue eligible liable relatives by issuing Determination Orders, first reminders, revised Determination Orders, final notices and submitting cases for court action (since 2001, 215 cases were referred for legal action). In addition older cases are reviewed to determine if there has been a change in the liable relative's circumstances.

Applicants for one-parent family payment are required to make ongoing efforts to look for adequate maintenance from their former spouses, or, in the case of unmarried applicants, the other parent of their child. Since 2001, one-parent family payment claimants are allowed to retain half of any maintenance received without reduction in their social welfare entitlements, as an incentive to seek support.

Where, following contact with the liable relative, there is no compliance with a Determination Order issued by my Department, the recipient of one-parent family payment is reminded of their obligation to seek maintenance in order for their payment to continue.

The following appendix gives details of cases dealt with by MRU and costs of MRU activity.