Status of Children Act, 1987

Birth and funeral expenses of dependent child.

21.—(1) The Act of 1976 is hereby amended by the insertion after section 21 of the following section:

“21A.—(1) The Court may make an order (in this Act referred to as a lump sum order) where it appears to the Court on application by—

(a) in relation to a dependent child of the family, a spouse, or

(b) in relation to a dependent child whose parents are not married to each other, a parent,

that the other spouse or parent, as the case may be, has failed to make such contribution as is proper in the circumstances towards the expenses incidental to either or both—

(i) the birth of a child who is a dependent child or who would have been a dependent child were he alive at the time of the application for a lump sum order,

(ii) the funeral of a child who was a dependent child or who would have been a dependent child had he been born alive,

and any lump sum order shall direct the respondent spouse or parent, as the case may be, to pay to the applicant a lump sum not exceeding £1,500, but no such order shall direct the payment of an amount exceeding £750 in respect of the birth of a child to whom this section relates or £750 in respect of the funeral of such a child.

(2) Section 5 (4) (as amended by the Status of Children Act, 1987) or 5A (3) (inserted by the said Act) of this Act, as may be appropriate, shall apply for the purpose of determining the amount of any lump sum under this section as it applies for the purpose of determining the amount of any payment under section 5 or 5A of this Act, as appropriate.

(3) (a) Nothing in this section, apart from this subsection, shall prejudice any right of a person otherwise to recover moneys expended in relation to the birth or funeral of a child.

(b) Where an application for a lump sum order has been determined, the applicant shall not be entitled otherwise to recover from the respondent moneys in relation to matters so determined.”.

(2) Section 64 of the Health Act, 1970 , is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):

“(3) In deciding whether or not to make an order under section 21A of the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976 (inserted by the Status of Children Act, 1987), in so far as any such order relates to the payment of expenses incidental to the birth of a child, the Circuit Court or the District Court, as the case may be, shall not take into consideration the fact that the mother of the child is entitled to a grant under this section.”.

(3) Section 28 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981 , is hereby amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):

“(2) In deciding whether or not to make an order under section 21A of the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act, 1976 (inserted by the Status of Children Act, 1987), in so far as any such order relates to the payment of expenses incidental to the birth of a child, the Circuit Court or the District Court, as the case may be, shall not take into consideration the fact that the mother of the child is entitled to maternity allowance.”.