Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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509. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she intends to publish her response to the report of the child maintenance review group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34626/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland.  The Group was chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and included legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from my Department and the Department of Justice.

The Group's Terms of Reference were to consider and make recommendations on:

(i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department;

(ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department; and

(iii) the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.

As part of its work, the Group conducted a public consultation process and examined the international position.

As the Deputy is aware, the Group has completed its work and its report was submitted to me on 22 April.  I am currently giving the report the careful consideration that such an important and complex issue deserves.  Given that the report relates to a broad range of issues that 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, at which time a decision regarding the publication date will be made.