Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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574. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount recovered under sections 345 and 346(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 for each of the past ten years in relation to maintenance recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41571/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The liability to maintain family provisions, contained in sections 345 & 346 (1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 are separate to, and do not negate or supersede parents’ obligations under Family Law. Where a lone parent is in receipt of One Parent Family Payment (OFP), the legislation enables the assessment of the liability of the other parent to pay a financial contribution either to the Department or the lone parent.

The Department records overall savings resulting from the operation of the provisions in the Act. These savings are derived from:

- direct payments made to the Department by the liable relative;

- reductions in the rate of OFP paid on foot of commencement or increase in maintenance payments from the liable relative, including estimates of payments avoided for a future period; and

- termination of the OFP claim, where the OFP recipient opts to close the claim, including estimates of payment avoided for a future period.

TABLE: Amount recovered under Sections 345 & 346(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 for the years 2008 to end August 2017

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.