Section 31Part 3 — THE DEPARTMENT'S SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Recoupment of cost of providing services, etc.
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Where the Department provides any service under section 19 or 20 other than advice, guidance or counselling, the Department may recover from a person specified in subsection (3) such charge for the service as it considers reasonable.
Where the Department is satisfied that the means of a person specified under subsection (3) are insufficient for it to be reasonably practicable for him to pay the charge, the Department shall not require him to pay more than he can reasonably be expected to pay.
The persons are —
where the service is provided for a child under 16, each of his parents;
where it is provided for a child who has reached the age of 16, the child himself; and
where it is provided for a member of the child's family, that member.
Any charge under subsection (1) may, without prejudice to any other method of recovery, be recovered summarily as a civil debt.
Part III of Schedule 2 makes provision in connection with contributions towards the maintenance of children who are being looked after by the Department.