AQW 52535/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 21/09/2026
Answered On Date: 06/10/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail whether he has received the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority's final review into the practice of Health and Social Care Trusts' Children’s Court Services in private law cases before the Family Courts.

Answer:

I have not yet received the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority's final review into the practice of Health and Social Care Trusts' Children’s Court Services in private law cases before the Family Courts. RQIA has agreed Terms of Reference for the review, developed the methodology to undertake the review and commenced the fieldwork with Health and Social Care Trusts to complete the review.

RQIA anticipate submitting a draft final report of the review to the Department by December 2026. Officials will then review the report for factual accuracy checks prior to the intended publication date. This review process should be completed within four weeks.

It is anticipated that the final report will be published in January 2027.