Fianna Fáil bill on maintenance cash could benefit thousands

Thousands of lone parents could benefit from closing off a loophole which allows estranged partners to avoid paying maintenance payments for their children.

Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea has published a bill which he says will ensure that irrespective of the type of welfare payment a lone parent gets, that the State can still compel the other parent to contribute.

Changes to social welfare legislation would correct an anomaly that has existed since the last Fine Gael-Labour government, said the Limerick City TD.