Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1307.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31935/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of income supports for people who are parenting alone, including the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment, which is a means-tested payment. A person may qualify for this payment if they do not live with a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant and their youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old.

The person concerned was awarded a JST payment on 05/08/2021 and is currently in receipt of a weekly rate of €278, made up of a personal rate of €232 plus an increase for one child of €46.

The person is also in receipt of a Child Benefit payment of €140 each month and was recently awarded €160 under the 2024 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

Please note that these payments were made in the sole name of the person concerned and were paid directly into the bank account nominated by the person concerned.

From June 2024, any maintenance received for a child is no longer assessed as means. All other maintenance, including spousal maintenance, will continue to be assessed in the normal manner. If a customer has a Maintenance Order or Separation Agreement then they are required to provide this to my Department, but they are not expected to go to Court to obtain such an Order/Agreement. A Departmental official can accept a declaration made by the customer in this regard, unless my Department is provided with information to the contrary.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has not been asked by my officials to go to Court to obtain a Maintenance Order or Separation Agreement.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.