AQW 42779/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 19/03/2026
Answered On Date: 13/04/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he has engaged with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority in relation to reviewing Children's Court Services, in the last 12 months.

Answer:

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 the five Health and Social Care Trusts Children’s Court Services of practice in private law cases before the Family Courts. The review will consider cases where domestic abuse has been alleged or established and social services have had involvement in that context, specifically with regard to child contact issues and related child safeguarding issues. RQIA is currently finalising its terms of reference to undertake that review.