Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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322. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the instructions that have been given to staff in Intreo offices regarding changes to the means testing of the one parent family payment; the process in place since 1 May 2024 for existing claimants to remove maintenance from their means test assessment; when this will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23819/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group was published in November 2022 and the Government accepted the Group's recommendations regarding the social welfare system.

These changes include decoupling child maintenance and social welfare and represent significant reforms, which will be of great benefit to lone parents. Amendments to both primary and secondary legislation as well as changes to some of the Department’s systems, application forms and processes are required.

The Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 (the “Act”), provides for changes to the social welfare means test such that child maintenance payments will no longer be assessed, for any means tested payment once the relevant provisions are brought into force.

This Act also provides for the payment of Child Benefit in respect of children who are aged 18 and in full time education or who have a disability. That provision took effect from 1 May 2024. Some coverage has suggested that the changes to the means test also come into effect from that date but that is not the case.

However, work to implement the changes to the means test is at a very advanced stage and an implementation date is expected to be announced very shortly. An instruction will issue to all relevant staff with clear guidelines including in relation to the processes being put in place to remove child maintenance payments from the means assessments of current claimants.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.