Child Maintenance Calculator Launched

Today an innovative new online child maintenance calculator was launched to help parents in coming to arrangements on child maintenance payments.

The launch of the calculator follows on from the publication last month of Ireland’s first set of Child Maintenance Guidelines. Development of the guidelines was a key recommendation of the 2024 Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders.

What is child maintenance?

The regular financial support a parent gives to help with the costs of raising a child. This payment usually goes to the parent who the child lives with most of the time.

What is a child maintenance calculator?

The calculator will help parents to work out an amount of child maintenance for their children. It will help parents to make arrangements directly or with help from a solicitor or a family mediation service.

While the calculator cannot cover every individual's situation, it can provide parents with a starting point to discuss with the other parent.

How will it calculate child maintenance?

The calculator estimates the amount of child maintenance that should be paid by looking at:

• Both parents’ eligible income (gross income minus a self-support allowance and deductions for other dependent children)
• How much parenting time each parent has
• The child/children’s age(s)