Just 25% of parents pay support after order

Just one-quarter of people found to owe child maintenance payments last year only began making payments after being contacted by the Department of Social Protection.

Figures show that in another 25% of cases, the identity of a parent could not be confirmed.

The department’s maintenance recovery unit examined 10,820 liable relatives last year and then issued 1,915 determination orders on the basis those people were in a position to make maintenance payments.