The new regulations, signed into effect by social protection minister Heather Humphreys, follow a review led by Judge Catherine Murphy, formerly of the Circuit Court.

Mrs Humphreys said: “I have signed regulations which mean that applicants for one-parent family payment and jobseeker’s transitional payment will no longer be required to make efforts to seek maintenance from their child’s other parent.

“This requirement often involved lone parents having to go to court to seek a maintenance order, so this change removes a potential additional stress for them, as well as helping to reduce the burden on our courts system.”

Further changes are set to be made through legislation. Over 16,000 lone parents will benefit from changes which will result in child maintenance payments being disregarded in the means test for social welfare payments.

The liable relative provisions have not been applied to new claims for one-parent family payment. As a result, the Department no longer seeks to recoup a portion of claim costs from the non-resident parent.

These two changes will be implemented following amendments to legislation, which is now at an advanced stage following approval by government.

“I am delighted that I have recently received government approval to draft the changes to primary legislation required in relation to the liable relatives’ provisions and removing child maintenance payments from assessment in the means test,” Mrs Humphreys said.

“I have sent the draft heads of bill to the joint committee on social protection, community and rural development and the islands for pre-legislative scrutiny. I hope to publish the bill as early as possible in the autumn.

“These are very significant reforms of the social welfare system which will be of great benefit to lone parents.”