The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

Assistance with complaints to relevant authorities

11.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Commissioner may provide assistance (including financial assistance) to a child or young person in making a complaint to a relevant authority—

(a) that the rights of the child or young person have been infringed by any action taken by that or another relevant authority; or

(b) that the interests of the child or young person have been adversely affected by any such action.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4), the Commissioner may act on behalf of a child or young person in—

(a) making such a complaint to a relevant authority; and

(b) any investigation or other proceedings conducted by that authority pursuant to the complaint.

(3) The Commissioner shall not provide any assistance to a child or young person under paragraph (1) unless it appears to the Commissioner that there is no other person or body likely to provide such assistance.

(4) The Commissioner shall not take any action on behalf of a child or young person under paragraph (2) unless it appears to the Commissioner that there is no other person or body likely to take such action.

(5) Where the making of a complaint to a relevant authority is regulated by a statutory provision, nothing in this Article authorises a complaint to be made to that authority otherwise than in accordance with that provision.