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PRESS RELEASE

10 March 2008
PN 12/07/08

Public Accounts Committee publishes report on
Northern Ireland Child Support Agency Client Funds

The NI Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published its report on the management of Northern Ireland Child Support Agency Client Funds Account 2003-04 to 2006-07 today.

The report reviews the performance of the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland (the Agency) in managing its client fund accounts during this period, including its debt collection and enforcement and highlights lessons learnt and planned improvements which the Agency anticipates will reduce the likelihood of previous failings reoccurring.

Committee Chairperson John O’Dowd, MLA said :

“The Committee recognises that the Child Support Agency has a major role to play in helping tackle child poverty in one of the most vulnerable groups in our society and more children would be lifted out of poverty if it delivers an effective service to its customers. Failure to collect the maintenance due from non-resident parents can cause real hardship and have lasting consequences for both parents with care and children.

“We are aware that the Agency is totally dependent on its Great Britain counterpart for its computer systems which have been continually failing for many years. However, the Committee questions whether the Agency has used this as an excuse for not tackling the performance matters that are under its remit.

“The Committee also questions whether some of the targets set by the Agency were stretching enough. It is particularly critical of the Agency’s target to collect only £1.5 million arrears in debt for 2007-08, when it has £71million owed.

“The Committee recognises that there has been an improvement in the average absence per member of staff, from 21.8 days in 2006-07 to an estimated 17.5 day for 2007-08. The Committee believes that there is clearly need for improvement and calls on the CSA to examine in conjunction with staff, management and Trade Unions as to why average absence is so high and to work towards a dramatic reduction.

“The Committee is concerned that the level of costs to collect and arrange each £1.00 of child maintenance here continues to be significantly higher than in Great Britain.

“The Committee believes that there is a need to target non-resident parents not paying for the support of their children. In cases where they have crossed the border into the Republic of Ireland, it should take every opportunity to work with the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DFSA) to minimise the scope for non-resident parents evading their responsibilities.

“The Committee is very critical that the Agency’s system is not able to produce a register of debtors. Indeed, it found it difficult to see how the Agency can be assured that it is asking people to pay the correct amounts if no debt register exists.

“The Committee is also disappointed that, against a background where, in around 9,500 cases, there was a failure to make full and regular payment and yet the Agency had only 12 successful prosecutions over the period from April 2007 to December 2007.

“The Committee found the arguments for a fresh start persuasive but, given the scale of the Agency’s problems, it is clear that there will be no quick solution. The Committee is surprised that the Department does not yet have a clear idea what the proposed structural change should achieve in terms of savings or efficiencies. However, it welcomed the Accounting Officer’s assurance that there will be no loss of transparency when child support activities are absorbed within the Department.”

Notes to editors:  

The PAC Committee members are:-
Mr John O’Dowd, (SF) Chairperson
Mr Roy Beggs, (UUP) Deputy Chairperson
Mr Trevor Lunn ( Alliance)
Mr Jonathan Craig (DUP)
Mr Simon Hamilton (DUP)
Mr David Hilditch (DUP)
Mr Ian McCrea (DUP) *
Ms Dawn Purvis (PUP)
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin (SF)
Mr Thomas Burns (SDLP)**
Mr John Dallat (SDLP)
* Mr Ian McCrea (DUP) replaced Mr Mickey Brady (SF) on the 21 January 2008
** Mr Thomas Burns (SDLP) replaced Mr Patsy McGlone (SDLP) on the 4 March 2008

Media enquiries to:
Kieran Dougan,
Information Office, Parliament Buildings, Belfast. BT4 3XX
Tel. 028 90521642 Mobile 07825146794
Email: kieran.dougan@niassembly.gov.uk
Website archive.niassembly.gov.uk