Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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92. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date for the publication of the Child Maintenance Review Group Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55754/22]

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'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.  Submissions were received from members of the public, as well as Members of the Oireachtas, NGOs and Professional Bodies.  The Group also examined the international position where there are a variety of different approaches taken to these matters.

The Group's report was submitted to me in April.  I have given the report the careful consideration that such an important and complex issue deserves.  Given that it relates to issues that are beyond the scope of the social welfare system, I am consulting with Government colleagues. 

Once the report has been fully considered, my intention is to bring it to Government before the end of this year, at which time a decision regarding the publication date will be made.

As lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty, I was pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to them.

Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment are amongst those who received a double weekly payment in October and who will receive a Christmas bonus double payment in December.  Like all families with children, lone parents received a double payment of Child Benefit on 1 November.  Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a lumpsum payment of €400 this month.

Approximately half of the payments of the €500 cost of living lump sum payment which will be made to recipients of the Working Family Payment this month will be made lone parents.

I have also provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment from January.  The personal rate of working age payments such as One-Parent Family Payment will increase by €12, from €208 to €220 per week, also from January.  In addition, the rate of Increase for a Qualified Child will increase by €2 to €42 per week in respect of a qualified child under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in respect of a qualified child aged 12 or over.  As a result, these rates will have increased by €6 for under 12s and by €10 for over 12s over the last three Budgets. 

I trust this clarifies the position.