Redesign of the Child Maintenance System

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie has previously stated her intention to wind up the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency and bring service delivery under the direct control of the Department.  

The transfer to a new Division within the Department will commence on 01 April 2008. The new Division will be called the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division.

The new Division will be responsible for the management of existing cases and the implementation of the redesign of child maintenance. There will be no immediate change for clients and the new Division will continue to focus on getting money to more children.

An interim period will exist whereby the new Division will operate under the existing Child Support Agency brand.

Minister is currently considering the proposals for Northern Ireland in the context of parity with Great Britain on child support matters. It is planned that a Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Bill will be introduced in the Northern Ireland Assembly in late spring 2008.