State saves €40m forcing absent parents to pay up

THE State has saved almost €40 million in the last three years by forcing thousands of absent parents to contribute to the cost of rearing their children.

Last year alone, 722 One-Parent Family Allowance payments were cancelled and a further 512 payments reduced - resulting in savings of €16.6m - because the Department of Social and Family Affairs chased and ordered absent parents to pay maintenance.

The One-Parent Family Allowance is the department’s mechanism for providing financial support to people who receive little or no maintenance from the other parent.