AQW 42778/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 19/03/2026
Answered On Date: 06/05/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department has any plans to review Children's Court Services as part of the Children’s Social Care Services Strategic Reform Programme.

Answer:

My Department does not intend to review Children's Court Services as part of the Children’s Social Care Services Strategic Reform Programme. Family courts were considered only by the Independent Review to the extent that they interface with Children’s Social Care Services - in particular through care proceedings.

However, I wrote to the Chief Executive Officer of the Regulation and Inspection Authority (RQIA) on 15th January 2026 to request that RQIA, undertakes an urgent review across Children’s Court Services of practice in cases before the Family Courts where domestic abuse has been alleged or established and the court is considering child contact issues and related child safeguarding issues. RQIA is currently finalising its Terms of Reference to undertake that review.