Prospective
126.—(1) In Article 11 of the Child Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (maintenance agreements), after paragraph (2) insert—
“(2A) The Department may, with a view to reducing the need for applications under Article 7—
(a)take such steps as it considers appropriate to encourage the making and keeping of maintenance agreements, and
(b)in particular, before accepting an application under that Article, invite the applicant to consider with the Department whether it is possible to make such an agreement.”
(2) In Schedule 2 to the Child Maintenance Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (maintenance calculations: transfer of cases to new rules), in paragraph 3, after sub-paragraph (2) insert—
“(3) The Department may before accepting an application required by provision under sub-paragraph (2)(b) invite the applicant to consider with the Department whether it is possible to make a maintenance agreement (within the meaning of Article 11 of the Child Support Order).”