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The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
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Changes over time for: Section 21
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The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, Section 21 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Order associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):
- art. 45(2(e) words repealed by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 5
- art. 7(2A)(ba) substituted for word by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 26(2)
- art. 7(2B)(ba) substituted for word by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 26(3)
- art. 10(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 26(b)
- art. 10(7A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 26(c)
- art. 14A?-14F and cross-heading inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(1)
- art. 14A(7) applied (with modifications) for specified purposes by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(6)
- art. 14C(1)(b) applied (with modifications) for specified purposes by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(7)(a)
- art. 14C(3)(4) excluded by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 26(7)(b)
- art. 18(6)-(6C) substituted for art. 18(6) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 121(1)
- art. 22(3)(aa) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 29
- art. 26(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 122(1)
- art. 26A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 123
- art. 27(7A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 125(3)
- art. 27(8)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 122(2)(b)
- art. 27(9A)-(9D) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 124
- art. 28(4) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 125(4)
- art. 28A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 126
- art. 28B inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 127
- art. 33(9) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 31(c)
- art. 34E(1)(d) and word inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 32(a)(iii)
- art. 34E(3)(4) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 32(b)
- art. 34F(1)(aa) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 33(a)(i)
- art. 34F(1A)-(1D) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 33(b)
- art. 34G inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 129
- art. 34AA inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(1)
- art. 34DA inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(2)
- art. 34DB 34DC inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(3)
- art. 35(1)-(1B) substituted for art. 35(1) by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 34(a)
- art. 35(5)(za) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 34(c)
- art. 35D(1)(aa)(ab) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 128(4)
- art. 35D(1A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(1)
- art. 45(2)(e)(i)(ii) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 131(a)
- art. 45(2)(f)(i)-(iii) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 131(b)
- art. 45(3A)-(3C) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(4)
- art. 45(4A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(6)
- art. 45(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(7)
- art. 45A?? inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 132
- art. 50A?? inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 134(1)
- art. 53(1)(ba) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 38(b)
- art. 53(6A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 135(3)
- art. 53(8)(za) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 135(4)
- art. 57(3A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(3)
- art. 60(6)(ha) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 138
- art. 107(7)(c) added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 139(4)
- art. 108(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 140(3)
- art. 108(3)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 140(4)(c)
- art. 112A inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 141
- art. 159(1)(c) and word added by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 119(4)(b)
- art. 165(2)(k) inserted by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 95(3)
- art. 170(2)-(9A) modified by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 105(3)
- art. 170(9A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 142
- art. 179(5A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 3 para. 42
- art. 183(2A) inserted by 2022 c. 18 (N.I.) s. 130(8)
Provision of accommodation for children: generalN.I.
21.—(1) Every authority shall provide accommodation for any child in need within its area who appears to the authority to require accommodation as a result of—
(a)there being no person who has parental responsibility for him;
(b)his being lost or having been abandoned; or
(c)the person who has been caring for him being prevented (whether or not permanently, and for whatever reason) from providing him with suitable accommodation or care.
(2) Where an authority provides accommodation under paragraph (1) for a child who is ordinarily resident in the area of another authority, that other authority may take over the provision of accommodation for the child within—
(a)three months of being notified in writing that the child is being provided with accommodation; or
(b)such other longer period as may be prescribed.
(3) Every authority shall provide accommodation for any child in need within its area who has reached the age of 16 and whose welfare the authority considers is likely to be seriously prejudiced if it does not provide him with accommodation.
(4) An authority may provide accommodation for any child within the authority's area (even though a person who has parental responsibility for him is able to provide him with accommodation) if the authority considers that to do so would safeguard or promote the child's welfare.
(5) An authority may provide accommodation for any person who has reached the age of 16 but is under 21 in any home provided under Part VII which takes children who have reached the age of 16 if the authority considers that to do so would safeguard or promote his welfare.
(6) Before providing accommodation under this Article, an authority shall, so far as is reasonably practicable and consistent with the child's welfare—
(a)ascertain the child's wishes [F1and feelings] regarding the provision of accommodation; and
(b)give due consideration (having regard to his age and understanding) to such wishes [F2and feelings] of the child as the authority has been able to ascertain.
F1Words in art. 21(6)(a) inserted (1.4.2024) by Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 18), ss. 120(2), 160(1); S.R. 2024/30, art. 2(c)
F2Words in art. 21(6)(b) inserted (1.4.2024) by Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 18), ss. 120(2), 160(1); S.R. 2024/30, art. 2(c)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Art. 21(5) applied (10.12.2015) by Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 10), ss. 9(2)(a), 10(1)
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