Womens Aid

Lobbying Organisation Womens Aid

Date published 07 May, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Jan, 2020 to 30 Apr, 2020

Specific Details During Covid-19 crisis, many women who are parenting alone due to domestic violence are not receiving the court ordered child maintenance from their abuser. Due to court restrictions at this time, women therefore are having difficulty to produce the necessary paperwork required by Social Welfare Dept. when requesting full restoration of the lone parent allowance.

Intended results Women's Aid request that the Department of Social Welfare waive requirements for legal evidence currently necesssary to prove suspended maintenance payments during the Covid-19 crisis and until such time as the courts resume normal work schedule.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sarah Benson

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Letter to inform the Minister of many women who are parenting alone due to domestic violence, are not receiving the court ordered child maintenance from their abuser. This breach of maintenance payment is not considered urgent by the court and therefore while court access is restricted, women are unable to obtain the necessary paperwork for Social Welfare when requesting to top up their lone parent allowance.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Regina Doherty Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)