Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981

Recovery of cost of meals.

[1914 PM, s. 2]

275.—(1) There shall be charged to the parent of every child in respect of every meal furnished to that child under this Chapter such an amount as may be determined by the local authority and, in the event of payment not being made by the parent, it shall be the duty of the authority, unless it is satisfied that the parent is unable by reason of circumstances other than his own default to pay the amount, to require the payment of that amount from that parent, and any such amount may be recovered as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(2) The local authority shall pay over to the school meals committee so much of any money paid to it by, or recovered from, any parent as may be determined by the authority to represent the cost of the food furnished by the committee to the child of that parent, less a reasonable deduction in respect of the expenses of recovering such money.