Debate contribution: Child Maintenance Service

Debate contribution by Ms Aoife Finnegan on 10 March 2026.

MLA: Ms Aoife Finnegan
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 10 March 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Child Maintenance Service
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5436379

Text

I thank the Minister for his answer. Parents rely on child maintenance to ensure that their children receive the support that they are entitled to. There are concerns, however, that some individuals deliberately avoid making payments or manipulate the system to reduce or evade payments. One example of that is cross-border workers, who are supposed to declare their income but, many times, do not. What measures are in place or are being considered to identify and address cases where the system is being abused, particularly where income may be deliberately under-reported or hidden?

93 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 3260/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

This is the same MLA’s follow-up within the exchange on their own question. It is analysed together with that question and is not counted separately, so one question is never counted twice.

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