A NEW Bill that would require absent parents to contribute to their children’s upbringing, regardless of the type of social welfare payment the other parent is in receipt of, has been proposed by Limerick TD Willie O’Dea.
Deputy O’Dea, who is Fianna Fáil spokesman on Employment Affairs and Social Protection, has published the amendment Bill to correct an anomaly that has been in existence since the Government changed the rules pertaining to maintenance responsibilities and the Lone Parent Family Allowance in 2012.
Currently, a second parent only has to contribute as long at their partner is in receipt of Lone Parent’s allowance, which ends once a child is seven.
“My amendment would extend that to include many other welfare payments to ensure that the State does not lose out. I don’t understand the logic in allowing the Maintenance Recovery Division to operate until a child’s seventh birthday and to then stop because of a legislative anomaly,” he added.
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