2161. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider introducing attachment orders, or a similar mechanism, on social welfare payments for persons convicted of ten or more offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60064/26]

2162. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider introducing attachment orders on social welfare payments for persons who breach maintenance orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60067/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2161 and 2162 together.

My Department understands that the Deputy's queries are related to the attachments of earnings relating to the payment of child maintenance.

The Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders, completed by my officials, was published in 2024. The Review put forward 26 recommendations focused on generating maximum compliance with child maintenance orders, to ensure security and stability for children and to aid poverty prevention. The key recommendations include:

• Development of a set of child maintenance guidelines.

• Running an awareness campaign highlighting the importance of paying child maintenance and promoting a ‘culture of paying’.

• Strengthening attachment of earnings orders, including by exploring the possibility of attaching an order to a PPS number rather than employing entities, so that orders do not lapse when there is a change in employer; permitting attachments on social welfare payments and benefits; as well as enabling the court to grant attachment of earnings orders automatically, without representation, if the paying parent defaults.

• Introduction of a single enforcement procedure when the receiving parent makes an enforcement application, allowing the judge to choose the most appropriate enforcement option based on the circumstances of the case. This would enable the courts to ensure enforcement difficulties and patterns of non-compliance with court ordered maintenance orders are addressed by the court in the most timely and effective manner possible.

• Simplification of the bench warrant process.

• Placing the onus on paying parents to pay costs associated with enforcement proceedings.

• Introduction of an information sharing agreement between Revenue, the Department of Social Protection and the Courts Service.

• Allowing for deductions from social welfare, the paying parent’s bank accounts, from government grants and subsidies and allowing for the recovery of arrears from tax refunds.

• Consolidating and simplifying maintenance legislation, which would be particularly beneficial for unrepresented litigants navigating maintenance proceedings.

The Programme for Government commits to enhancing the enforcement mechanisms for child maintenance orders to ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents. In line with this commitment, the development of legislative amendments required to give effect to the Review’s recommendations is under way.

On 19 January this year, I published Ireland’s first set of Child Maintenance Guidelines, along with the report on the public consultation. The published guidelines and accompanying report can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/publications/child-maintenance-guidelines-for-ireland/.

In line with another recommendation in the Review, my Department also undertook a social media campaign in October 2025, to reinforce the importance of paying child maintenance and complying with Child Maintenance orders.