Child Maintenance Act (Northern Ireland) 2008

Fees

3.—(1) The Department may by regulations make provision about the charging of fees by the Department in connection with the exercise of its functions relating to child support.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision—

(a) about when a fee may be charged;

(b) about the amount which may be charged;

(c) for the supply of information needed for the purpose of determining the amount which may be charged;

(d) about who is liable to pay any fee charged;

(e) about when any fee charged is payable;

(f) about the recovery of fees charged;

(g) about waiver, reduction or repayment of fees.

(3) The power conferred by subsection (1) includes power to make provision for the charging of fees which are not related to costs.

(4) The Department may by regulations provide that the provisions of the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (NI 23) (in this Act referred to as “the Child Support Order”) with respect to—

(a) the collection of child support maintenance,

(b) the enforcement of any obligation to pay child support maintenance,

shall apply equally (with any necessary modifications) to fees payable by virtue of regulations under subsection (1).

(5) The Department may by regulations make provision for a person affected by a decision of the Department under regulations under subsection (1) to have a right of appeal against the decision to an appeal tribunal.

(6) Paragraphs (3) to (5), (7) and (8) of Article 22 of the Child Support Order (appeals to appeal tribunals) apply to appeals under regulations under subsection (5) as they apply to appeals under that Article.