ONE in four partners who deserted their children could not be traced, the House was told. The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, said that about half of those who were traced were on social welfare and not in a position to contribute. Of those in employment one in five was found to be unable to pay after assessment by welfare officials.

Since 1989, nearly £1.2 million was contributed by 350 partners who were successfully traced and pursued for maintenance, the Minister said. Six staff in the Department dealt directly with this aspect of maintenance.

He was responding at question time to the Fianna Fail spokesman on social welfare, Mr Joe Walsh, who said the Minister seemed content to allow the taxpayer to pick up the bill for the partners who left children and made no contribution to their upkeep.

Mr Noel Ahern (FF, Dublin North West) said defaulters should be checked out regularly and made to pay up. "There is wholesale abuse of the lone parents allowance scheme."

Mr De Rossa said that over more than 19,000 defaulters were investigated. In many cases partners were separated because of violence and demanding maintenance could make life difficult for the partner left with the children. There was no reluctance by the Department to pursue them but it must ensure that efforts to save money "did not make life hell for the people we are supporting".