Jim O'Callaghan

The awareness campaign is to run across several social media and video platforms from today.

Jim O’Callaghan, the minister for justice, home affairs and migration, said: “Child maintenance helps provide stability and security for children. All parents, whether they are married, separated, living together, or have never lived together, have an obligation to support their children based on what they can afford.

“This campaign aims to encourage parents to proactively engage in those processes and, where possible, to reach voluntary agreements regarding child maintenance, putting their children’s needs first through cooperation and a sense of mutual responsibility.

“I am acutely aware that child maintenance is often an issue after a relationship break-up and that coming to agreed arrangements can be challenging in those circumstances.

“The campaign is part of a wider set of actions my department is implementing to reform the family justice system. Making the payment of child maintenance easier is a key priority of that reform.

“Child maintenance guidelines with an accompanying calculator that will give parents an estimate of how much child maintenance they should pay or receive for their children will be launched in the coming weeks by my department.

“Over time, the full implementation of the recommendations in the review of the enforcement of child maintenance orders will help to ensure that paying child maintenance and ensuring payments are received is more straightforward for parents.”

The campaign fulfils a recommendation of the review of the enforcement of child maintenance orders, which was published in January 2024.

Mr O’Callaghan added: “I am committed to improving and modernising family justice processes.

“The overarching aim of the family justice strategy is to build a system that is more efficient, less adversarial, and truly accessible — one that prioritises safety, transparency, and the best outcomes for children and parents alike.

“This campaign is one of several actions completed under the strategy, that aims to improve the lives of children and families across the country and clearly signpost the practical supports available to them.”