Allowance crackdown - Lesson for parents who shirk duties

For once, the long arm of the law can be commended for reaching out and recovering almost €40 million by the State over the last three years from delinquent parents.

Social and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan, apart from clawing back so much money, also delivered a lesson to those parents that they cannot run away from their responsibilities.

Having incurred them, they cannot expect the State to step in and carry that financial responsibility when those culpable can afford to do so.