Fresh calls for new child support system

There are fresh calls for a new, statutory child maintenance service, after figures showed that, of all the cases reviewed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection last year, just 15% resulted in payments being made.

The figures come as Sinn Féin prepares to launch its proposal for a child maintenance service later today, based on the system in the North.

Under the proposals, which will be outlined by the party’s social affairs spokesman, Wicklow TD John Brady, lone parents would have three options, under which to pursue maintenance: Parental arrangements, direct pay, and collect-and-transfer. The latter option is a last resort in cases where the non-custodial parent refuses to pay child maintenance, with the parent also penalised through an added fee. Figures for 2017, provided by the Department of Social Protection, show that 9,011 cases were examined last year by the Maintenance Recovery Unit (MRU), resulting in determination orders being issued in 4,413 cases, or less than 50%.