The Child Support Information Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for the furnishing of information or evidence required by the Department for Social Development for the purpose of its functions under the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (“the Order”). They also provide for the disclosure by the Department of information held for the purpose of the Order. These Regulations replace the Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 (“the 1992 Regulations”).

Part 2 relates to the duty to provide information or evidence.

Regulations 3 to 6 impose a duty to furnish information required by the Department on the applicant, on other persons (including the non-resident parent and a person alleged to be a non-resident parent) and on the courts. Regulation 7 deals with the obligation of persons from whom information is requested. Regulation 8 requires a request under regulations 3 to 6 to contain a warning as to the consequences of failure to comply.

Regulations 9 and 10 impose obligations to report matters to the Department. Regulation 9 requires persons liable to pay child support maintenance to notify the Department of a change of address. Regulation 10 requires persons with care to inform the Department where they believe that the maintenance calculation has ceased to have effect.

Regulation 11 gives inspectors appointed under the Order a right of entry to Crown premises.

Part 3 deals with disclosure of information.

Regulation 12 provides for disclosure of information by the Department to a court or tribunal and regulation 13 provides for disclosure of information to the parties to a maintenance calculation.

Regulation 14 extends the application of Article 46 of the Order, which creates an offence for unauthorised disclosure of information, to the employments listed in that regulation.

Part 4 contains a revocation and saving provision.