Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson and TD for Dublin Bay North, Deputy Tom Brabazon, has today welcomed the announcement of Ireland’s first-ever Child Maintenance Guidelines and Calculator by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan.
Speaking on the announcement, Deputy Brabazon said:
“This will help parents reach fair and informed agreements and reduce reliance on court proceedings, which I have seen can be unnecessarily costly and stressful for families during an already difficult period in their lives.
The online maintenance calculator is a practical tool that will assess child maintenance based on both parents’ respective gross incomes and their parenting time.”
Deputy Brabazon said the introduction of the guidelines represents a significant step forward in ensuring greater fairness, consistency and transparency when parents are making child maintenance arrangements.
“The creation of child maintenance guidelines is a first for Ireland and marks a major improvement in how child maintenance is approached.
"From my experience working in the law, I can see the positive impact this will have on families across the country.
"The guidelines and calculator will be valuable tools for parents who choose, and for whom it is possible, to make private child maintenance arrangements directly between themselves rather than through the court system.”
Deputy Brabazon also welcomed the Minister’s announcement regarding the implementation of the Family Courts Act 2024. This includes the establishment of the first family courts in selected locations on a phased basis, ahead of a full national roll-out.
Under the implementation plan, the Act will be commenced in stages, with officials beginning work immediately with the Courts Service to establish the first family courts in January 2027.
Deputy Brabazon concluded by welcoming these initiatives as practical, family-focused reforms that place the best interests of children at their core.