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23/12/2011
Child Maintenance Survey Commences
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division (CMED), is carrying out a survey to determine how many effective maintenance agreements are in place to support children across Northern Ireland.
CMED, which is part of the Department for Social Development, promotes and secures effective maintenance arrangements for those children who live apart from one or both parents. At present, no baseline information exists in Northern Ireland to indicate how many effective maintenance arrangements are in place.
Completion of the survey will enable CMED to identify the proportion of families who have a private maintenance arrangement in place or no arrangement at all. CMED will use the results to help them provide better service to parents and ensure children are financially supported.
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland welcomed the survey and said: “Every parent has a responsibility to provide for their children. Where parents are no longer together it is important to ensure that effective arrangements are in place to provide adequate financial support for the children.
“The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division is charged with promoting financial responsibility among parents for their children and helping them put effective arrangements in place. These can be family based arrangements, court orders or through the statutory scheme administered by CMED. The important part is that the arrangements should be fair to both parents and the child.
“Unfortunately, not every parent lives up to their responsibilities and some children do miss out on financial support from both parents. Information from the survey will enable CMED to understand some of the difficulties and barriers that parents face in setting up child maintenance arrangements, and to improve the support we can provide to parents to help overcome the barriers.”
The initial fieldwork for the survey has been completed and face to face interviews will be carried out with respondents who have agreed to participate. The survey is confidential and no information which could identify respondents will be recorded.
(GK)
CMED, which is part of the Department for Social Development, promotes and secures effective maintenance arrangements for those children who live apart from one or both parents. At present, no baseline information exists in Northern Ireland to indicate how many effective maintenance arrangements are in place.
Completion of the survey will enable CMED to identify the proportion of families who have a private maintenance arrangement in place or no arrangement at all. CMED will use the results to help them provide better service to parents and ensure children are financially supported.
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland welcomed the survey and said: “Every parent has a responsibility to provide for their children. Where parents are no longer together it is important to ensure that effective arrangements are in place to provide adequate financial support for the children.
“The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division is charged with promoting financial responsibility among parents for their children and helping them put effective arrangements in place. These can be family based arrangements, court orders or through the statutory scheme administered by CMED. The important part is that the arrangements should be fair to both parents and the child.
“Unfortunately, not every parent lives up to their responsibilities and some children do miss out on financial support from both parents. Information from the survey will enable CMED to understand some of the difficulties and barriers that parents face in setting up child maintenance arrangements, and to improve the support we can provide to parents to help overcome the barriers.”
The initial fieldwork for the survey has been completed and face to face interviews will be carried out with respondents who have agreed to participate. The survey is confidential and no information which could identify respondents will be recorded.
(GK)
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19 June 2014
Child Maintenance Payments Increase £3.2m
An extra 731 children have benefited from an increase of £3.2m in child maintenance payments across Northern Ireland throughout 2013/14, it has been announced. The Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Service said 22,123 children benefited from Child maintenance payments totalling £27.2m.
Child Maintenance Payments Increase £3.2m
An extra 731 children have benefited from an increase of £3.2m in child maintenance payments across Northern Ireland throughout 2013/14, it has been announced. The Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Service said 22,123 children benefited from Child maintenance payments totalling £27.2m.
01 June 2015
Majority Of Children Placed In Pre-School Of Their Choice
The majority of children, whose parents applied for a pre-school slot during the schools' admission process, have been allocated a place. The Department of Justice said over 23,400 or 99.
Majority Of Children Placed In Pre-School Of Their Choice
The majority of children, whose parents applied for a pre-school slot during the schools' admission process, have been allocated a place. The Department of Justice said over 23,400 or 99.
10 September 2008
Minister Launches Campaign To 'Stop Robbing Children'
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, MLA has launched a new campaign to win the hearts and minds and get money for children from Non-Resident Parents. The advertising campaign targets non-resident parents who will not pay child maintenance, in a bid to ensure that money will flow more quickly to children.
Minister Launches Campaign To 'Stop Robbing Children'
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, MLA has launched a new campaign to win the hearts and minds and get money for children from Non-Resident Parents. The advertising campaign targets non-resident parents who will not pay child maintenance, in a bid to ensure that money will flow more quickly to children.
07 August 2023
Bereaved Parents Urged To Check Eligibility For Financial Support
The Department for Communities (DfC) has urged bereaved parents whose partner died between 9 April 2001 and 8 February 2023 to check their eligibility for backdated financial support by the Department for Communities.
Bereaved Parents Urged To Check Eligibility For Financial Support
The Department for Communities (DfC) has urged bereaved parents whose partner died between 9 April 2001 and 8 February 2023 to check their eligibility for backdated financial support by the Department for Communities.
23 May 2002
Lone parents urged to avail of New Deal
Social Development Minister Nigel Dodds has urged lone parents to improve their employment opportunities and broaden their life choices by participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents. Speaking at the launch of “Choices 2” - a magazine aimed at lone parents in Northern Ireland - Mr Dodds said: "Information equals opportunity.
Lone parents urged to avail of New Deal
Social Development Minister Nigel Dodds has urged lone parents to improve their employment opportunities and broaden their life choices by participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents. Speaking at the launch of “Choices 2” - a magazine aimed at lone parents in Northern Ireland - Mr Dodds said: "Information equals opportunity.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
