Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of liable relatives pursued in order to recoup moneys paid for the one-parent family payment in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form; and the number of liable relatives that began making payments. [3538/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The issue of family maintenance payments is first and foremost a private matter for the people concerned.

Where a one parent family payment (OFP) is awarded, the Department seeks to contact the other parent, referred to as the liable relative, in order to ascertain if they are in a financial position to make a contribution towards the cost of the OFP. This contribution will be assessed in determining the rate of the OFP. The legislative basis for the implementation of the Liability to Maintain Family Provisions is set out in Part 12 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended. The methods of assessment of the liable relative’s ability to pay are specified in detail in Regulations (S.I. 571 of 2006, S.I. 142 of 2007 as amended).

Liable Relatives Cases Assessed

In 2018, 1,039 liable relatives commenced making payments or made additional payments to the OFP recipient. In a further 65 cases, the liable relatives began paying the Department directly.

In 2019, 1,474 liable relatives commenced making payments or made additional payments to the OFP recipient. In a further 95 cases, the liable relatives began paying the Department directly.

In 2020, 1,075 liable relatives commenced making payments or made additional payments to the OFP recipient. In a further 49 cases, the liable relatives began paying the Department directly.