The below amendment(s) have been made to this instrument which can be viewed by clicking on the link(s):

No84-S.I. No. 5 Of 2006: District Court (Children) Rules 2006
No84-S.I. No. 469 Of 2008: District Court (Child Care) Rules 2008
No84-S.I. No. 143 Of 2015: District Court (Child Care) Rules 2015

 

Definitions

1. In this Order:

"the Act" means the Child Care Act, 1991 (No. 17 of 1991);

"child" means a person under the age of eighteen years other than a person who is or has been married;

"health board" means a health board established under the Health Act, 1970 (No. 1 of 1970);

"parents" has the meaning assigned to it in section 2 (1) of the Act.

 

Hearings

2. (1) Proceedings under Part III, IV or VI of the Act shall be heard otherwise than in public and only officers of the Court, the parties and their legal representatives, witnesses and such other persons as the Judge in his or her discretion may allow, shall be permitted to be present at the hearing.

(2) The Judge may, if he or she thinks it proper to do so, order any witness who is not a party to the proceedings to leave court either until his or her evidence is required or after his or her evidence has been given.

(3) Proceedings in the Court under Part III, IV or VI of the Act shall be as informal as is practicable and consistent with the administration of justice. Neither Judges hearing and determining such proceedings not barristers nor solicitors appearing in such proceedings shall wear wigs or gowns.

 

Service of documents

3. (1) A document required by these Rules to be served shall, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) hereof, be served upon the person to whom it is directed—

(a) by delivering to him or her a copy thereof or,

(b) if he or she cannot be conveniently met with, by leaving a copy thereof for him or her at his or her last known residence or most usual place of abode with any relative of such person who is not less than sixteen years of age and who is believed to reside there with him or her, or by leaving it with the person in charge of the house or premises of such residence or abode, or,

(c) by leaving a copy thereof for him or her at his or her place of business with any agent, clerk, employee or servant of such person who is not less than sixteen years of age, or

(d) by sending a copy thereof by ordinary prepaid post in an envelope addressed to him or her at his or her last known residence or most usual place of abode or at his or her place of business.

(2) A document shall be served upon a health board or other statutory board or body or upon an unincorporated society by leaving a copy thereof with any employee of that board, body or society at its principal office or by sending such copy by ordinary prepaid post in an envelope addressed to the board, body or society at such principal office.

(3) The Court may, if for special reason in any particular case it considers it proper to do so, deem the service actually effected to be good and sufficient service, even though it was not effected in accordance with the provisions of this Order.

 

Lodgment for hearing

4. When a notice of application, summons or notice of appeal issued under this Order has been served, the original notice or summons, together with a statutory declaration as to service thereof, shall be lodged forthwith with the Clerk for entry for hearing.

Proceedings under Part III of the Act

Emergency care order

5. (1) An application by a health board under section 12 (4) or 13 (1) of the Act for an emergency care order shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.1 or 84.2 Schedule C , as the case may be, upon the respondent, i.e. the parent having custody of the child or a person acting in loco parentis. Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application.

(2) Where, however, the Judge is satisfied that the urgency of the matter so requires, an application for an emergency care order may be

(a) made ex parte, subject to the lodgment with the Clerk of the notice of application (Form  84.1 or 84.2 Schedule C, as the case may be) duly completed;

(b) heard and an order may be made thereon elsewhere than at a public sitting of the Court.

 

Venue

6. (1) An emergency care order made under section 13 (1) of the Act shall be made by the Judge for the district in which the child resides or is for the time being. Where, however, such Judge is not immediately available, the order may be made by any judge of the District Court.

(2) An emergency care order shall be in the Form 84.3 or 84.4 Schedule C, as he case may be, and the applicant shall cause a copy thereof to be served upon a parent having custody of the child or, as the case may be, upon a person acting in loco parentis.

(3) A warrant issued under section 13 (3) of the Act for the purpose of executing such an Order shall be in the Form 84.5 Schedule C.

(4) An appeal from an emergency care order shall not stay the operation of the order.

 

Directions under section 13 (7)

7. (1) Where, otherwise than at the hearing of an application for an emergency care order, application is made under section 13 (7) of the Act for the Judge's directions, such application shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.6 Schedule C upon the health board, the parents of the child or either of them, a person acting in loco parentis, or any other person, as appropriate. Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application An order giving directions on such application shall be in the Form 84.7 Schedule C which shall be served upon each person directly affected by the Order.

(2) An application to vary or discharge a direction given under the said section 13 (7) (a) shall be preceded by the issue and service as prescribed in paragraph (1) hereof of a notice in the Insert From here Form 84.8. Schedule C The order of the Court on granting the application shall be in the Form 84.9 Schedule C; which shall be served as prescribed in the said paragraph (1).

8. It shall not be necessary in any notice or application under section 13 of the Act or in any order made under that section to name the child if such name is unknown.

Proceedings Under Part IV of the Act

Interim care order

9. (1) An application by a health board under section 17 (1) of the Act for an interim care order shall, except where the Judge directs under subsection (3) of that section, be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.10 Schedule C upon the respondent, i.e. a parent having custody of the child or, as the case may be, a person acting in loco parentis. Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. An interim care order made on such application shall be in the Form 84.11 Schedule C and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon the respondent and any other person directly affected by the Order.

(2) A warrant issued under section 35 of the Act (and as prescribed in Rule 27 hereof) for the purpose of executing an interim care order shall be in the Form 84.43 Schedule C.

(3) An application under section 17 (2) of the Act for an extension of the period of an interim care order shall, except where the Judge otherwise directs under subsection (3) of that section, be preceded by the issue and service as prescribed in paragraph (1) hereof of a notice in the Form 84.12 Schedule C. The order granting the extension shall be in the Form 84.13 Schedule C and may, where appropriate, be added to or endorsed on the interim care order.

 

Care Order

10. (1) An application by a health board under section 18 (1) of the Act for a care order in respect of a child who resides or is found in its area shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.14 Schedule C, upon the respondent, i.e. a parent having custody of the child or, as the case may be, a person acting in loco parentis. Such notice shall be served at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application.

 

— service

(2) A care order made on such application shall be in the Form 84.15 Schedule C, and the applicant shall cause the said Order to be served upon the respondent.

 

— warrant

(3) A warrant issued under section 35 of the Act (and as prescribed in Rule 27 hereof) for the purpose of executing a care order shall be in the Form 84.43 Schedule C.

 

Extension of Care Order

11. An application under section 18 (2) of the Act to extend the operation of a care order shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.16 Schedule C, upon the respondent at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order granting the application shall be in the Form 84.17 Schedule C, and may, where appropriate, be added to or endorsed on the care order.

 

Supervision Order

12. Where, on an application for a care order, the Court makes a supervision order (as provided for in section 18 (5) of the Act) the order of the Court shall be in the Form 84.18 schedule C and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon the respondent.

 

Directions pending Care Order

13. An application under section 18 (6) of the Act for the Court's directions as to the care and custody of a child pending the determination of an application for a care order shall, unless made viva voce at the hearing of the latter application, be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.19 Schedule C, upon the respondent, i.e.the health board, the parent having custody of the child, the person acting in loco parentis, as appropriate. Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court giving such directions shall be in the Form 84.20 Schedule C, and shall be served on each party and any other person affected directly by the order.

 

Supervision Order Pending Care Order

14. An application under section 18 (6) of the Act for a supervision order pending the determination of an application for a care order shall, unless made viva voce at the hearing of the latter application, be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.21 Schedule C, at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting such application for a supervision order shall be in the Form 84.22 Schedule C, and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon the respondent.

 

Contribution by parent

15. (1) Where, in addition to making a care order, the Court makes an order under section 18 (7) of the Act requiring the parent or parents of a child to contribute towards his or her maintenance, such contribution order shall be in the Form 84.23 Schedule C, and the applicant health board shall cause the said order to be served upon the said parent or parents.

(2) An application under section 18 (8) of the Act to vary or discharge a contribution order shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.24 Schedule C, upon the respondent. Such notice shall be served at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.25 Schedule C, and shall be served upon the parent required to contribute.

 

Supervision Order

16. (1) An application by a health board under section 19 (1) of the Act for a supervision order with respect to a child who resides in its area shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.26 Schedule C, upon the respondent or respondents, i.e. the parents of the child or, as the case may be, the parent having custody of the child or a person acting in loco parentis.Such notice shall be served at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application.

(2) A supervision order made on such application shall be in the Form 84.27 Schedule C, and the applicant health board shall cause the said order to be served upon each respondent.

 

Directions as to visits

17. An application under section 19 (3) of the Act for the Court's directions as to the manner in which a child is to be visited shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.28 Schedule C, upon the respondent health board at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court giving such directions shall be in the Form 84.29 Schedule C, and shall be served upon each of the parties.

 

Further directions

18. An application by a health board under section 19 (4) of the Act, made during the currency of a supervision order, for the Court's directions as to the care of the child shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.30 Schedule C, upon the respondent or respondents. Such notice shall be served at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court giving such directions shall be in the Form 84.31 Schedule C, and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon each respondent.

 

Investigations under section 20 (1)

19. (1) Where, under section 20 (1) of the Act, the Court adjourns proceedings and directs a health board to undertake an investigation of a child's circumstances, if the board is not a party to those proceedings, the Clerk shall as soon as possible notify the board (in the Form 84.32 Schedule C,) of the Court's decision.

` (2) Where, upon so adjourning, the Court gives directions under section 20 (2) of the Act as to the care and custody of the child or makes a supervision order in respect of the child pending the outcome of the investigation by the health board —

(a) an order of the Court giving such directions shall be in the Form 84.33 Schedule C.

(b) any such supervision order shall be in the Form 84.34, Schedule C,

and the order shall be served upon each person directly affected thereby.

 

Vary or discharge care order

20. An application under section 22 of the Act—

(a) to vary or discharge a care order or any condition or direction attaching to such order or to discharge the care order and make a supervision order, or

(b) to vary or discharge a supervision order or any condition or direction attaching to such order,shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form Insert From here 84.35, 84.36 or 84.37 Schedule C, as the case may be, upon the respondent or respondents. Such notice shall be served at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting such application shall be in the Form 84.38, 84.39 or 84.40 Schedule C, as the case may be, and shall be served upon each person directly affected thereby.

 

Effect of appeals

21. An appeal from an order made by the Court under Part IV of the Act shall, if the Court or the Court to which the appeal is brought so determines (but not otherwise), stay the operation of the order on such terms (if any) as may be imposed by the Court making the determination.

Applications etc. under Part V of the Act

Requests for reports

22. (1) Where, other than during the hearing of the proceedings, application is made by any of the parties for an order under section 27 (1) of the Act requesting the preparation of a report, such application shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.41 Schedule C, upon the other party or parties. Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.42 Schedule C, and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon the person nominated therein to prepare the report.

(2) When the report has been prepared it shall be lodged with the Clerk. A copy of the report shall be made available by the applicant to the counsel or solicitor representing each party or, if any party is not so represented, to that party.

 

Attendance of child

23. A request under section 30 (2) of the Act by a child to be present during the hearing of the proceedings or any part thereof may be made by letter addressed to the Court and lodged with the Clerk prior to or during the hearing, as appropriate, or such request may be made orally to the Court at the commencement of or during such hearing, as appropriate.

 

Warrant to execute care order

24. A warrant issued under section 35 of the Act to execute an interim care order or a care order made under Part IV of the Act directing that a child be placed or maintained in the care of a health board shall be in the Form 84.43 Schedule C.

Proceedings Under Part VI of the Act

Access to child

25. (1) An application under section 37 (2) of the Act for an order regarding access to a child shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.44 Schedule C, upon the health board at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.45 Schedule C.

 

Vary access

(2) An application under the said section 37 (2) to vary or discharge an order to which paragraph (1) hereof relates shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.46 Schedule C, upon the respondent or respondents, i.e. the health board, the parents, the persons mentioned in section 37 (1) of the Act, as appropriate. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.47 Schedule C, and shall be served upon each of the parties.

 

Authority to refuse access

26. (1) An application by a health board under section 37 (3) of the Act for an order authorising it to refuse access to a child in its care shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.48 Schedule C, upon the respondent (the person against whom the order is sought). Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.49 Schedule C, and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon the respondent.

(2) An application under the said section 37 (3) to vary or discharge an order to which paragraph (1) hereof relates shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.50 Schedule C, upon the respondent or respondents. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.51 Schedule C, and shall be served upon each of the parties.

 

Order to deliver up child to health board — S.43 (2)

27. An application by a health board under section 43 (2) of the Act for an order directing that a child be delivered up to the custody of the board shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.52 Schedule C, upon the respondent. Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.53 Schedule C, and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon the respondent.

 

Information — s.46 (3)

28. Where an order is sought under section 46 (3) of the Act directing that a child be delivered up to the custody of the health board, the applicant shall lay information before the Judge on oath and in writing in the Form 84.54 Schedule C, and the Judge may, on foot of such information, sign and issue a summons in the Form 84.55. Schedule C, Such summons shall be served upon the respondent at least two days prior to the return date thereof. Where, however, the Judge is satisfied that the urgency of the matter so requires, the application may be made ex parte and an order under the said section may be made on foot of the sworn information without the necessity to issue such summons. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.56 Schedule C, and the applicant shall cause the said order to be served upon the respondent.

 

Search warrant

29. An application under section 46 (6) of the Act for a search warrant shall be by information on oath and in writing in the Form 84.57. Schedule C, Where the Judge receiving such information issues a warrant under that section such warrant shall be in the Form 84.58 Schedule C.

 

Direction under s. 47

30. (1) An application under section 47 of the Act for the Court's directions on a question affecting the welfare of a child in the care of a health board shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.59 Schedule C, upon the respondent or respondents. Such notice shall be served at least two days prior to the date fixed for hearing the application. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.60 Schedule C, and shall be served upon each of the parties and any other person directly affected by the order.

 

— variation or discharge

(2) An application to have any such order or direction varied or discharged shall be preceded by the issue and service as prescribed in paragraph (1) hereof of a notice in the Form 84.61 Schedule C, upon the respondent or respondents. The order of the Court granting the application shall be in the Form 84.62 Schedule C, and shall be served upon each of the parties and any other person directly affected by the order.

 

Applications under Part VII of the Act

31. (1) In this rule "pre-school service" has the meaning assigned to it in section 49 of the Act.
 

Pre-School service — warrant

(2) An application under section 55 (2) of the Act for a warrant to enter and inspect premises in which a pre-school service is being carried on shall be by information on oath and in writing in the Form 84.63. Schedule C. Where the Judge receiving such information issues a warrant under that section such warrant shall be in the Form 84.64. Schedule C.

Proceedings under Part VIII of the Act

Children's residential centre

32. An appeal to the Court under section 62 of the Act by the registered proprietor or, as the case may be, the person intending to be the registered proprietor of a children's residential centre, against a decision, specified in subsection (1) of that section, of a health board shall be preceded by the issue and service of a notice in the Form 84.65 Schedule C, upon that health board. Such notice shall be served at least seven days prior to the date fixed for hearing the appeal. The appellant shall lodge with the Clerk prior to the hearing a copy of the decision against which the appeal is brought or a copy of the notification referred to in section 61 (11) (b) (ii) of the Act. The order of the Court on hearing the appeal shall be in the Form 84.66. Schedule C.

Orders provided for in Part X of the Act

School Attendance Act— care order

33. Where, in proceedings against a parent under section 17 of the School Attendance Act, 1926 (No. 17 of 1926), the Court makes a care order under section 17 (4) (b) of that Act (as substituted by section 75 of the Act) committing the child to the care of a health board the order of the Court shall be in the Form 84. 67 Schedule C, and shall be served upon the said parent of the child.