District Court
General
The District Court has a range of jurisdiction in family matters. Special forms of civil summons apply to various family law proceedings. An appeal lies the Circuit Court from decisions of the District Court in family matters.
Family law matters are not heard in public. There are provisions for applications by members of the media in respect of attendance of family proceedings. There are limited situations in which applications may be granted.
Unmarried Father
The District Court has powers in relation to guardianship custody and access to children. It may, on the application of the father of an infant appoint him to be a guardian. This does not affect persons who are guardians already unless the court otherwise orders it.
There is a special procedure where the mother consents in writing to the appointment or where the father is registered as such in the Register of Birth. This procedure is as informal as possible and consistent with the administration of justice.
In proceedings relating to parentage, a blood test may be ordered. An application may be made for a direction for the use of blood tests in a prescribed format. The court may, on its own motion, make a direction for the use of blood tests.
Guardianship & Custody
Applications with respect to guardianship are made in accordance with the prescribed form of application. The rules specify who must be served. Typically this is the parents and other guardians.  An application by a relative for access is also made to the District Court.
Applications may be made in respect of the appointment and removal of a guardian.
Applications to vary and discharge existing guardianship and custody matters are made in a special format. Where a person has failed to afford custody or access, a special procedure allows the applicant to summon the person who has failed to comply.
Applications are generally made on two weeks’ notice. Proceedings certified as urgent may be heard on two days’ notice.
Family Home
Applications may be made under the Family Home Protection Act to the District Court. There is a prescribed form of application under the rules, including
- restrictions on disposing of household chattels,
- dispensing with consent,
- protection of the family home from  conduct relating to its loss
- declaration as conveyance void
The prescribed format of summons and applications are set out in the rules. Fourteen days’ notice is generally required. Two will suffice in urgent cases.
Domestic Violence
Applications are made to the District Court for protection orders, safety orders and barring orders. There is a prescribed form of application in each case.
There is provision for applications for an interim barring order without notice to the other party on the basis of an affidavit. It may be granted without notice where this is expedient in the interest of justice. There are provisions for variation and discharge of interim and permanent protection orders.
The Clerk of the court must send copies of the orders to certain parties, including the applicant, respondent, HSE and Garda SÃochána.  Similarly, the Gardai are to be notified when the order is varied or discharged or ceases to have effect.
Maintenance
The District Court has powers in relation to maintenance orders limited to €500 euro per week for a spouse and €150 per week for the support of a child. Arrears of maintenance up to six months may be claimed.
The District Court has the power to make maintenance orders and lump sum maintenance orders. The application is in a prescribed form. Fourteen days’ notice is generally required.
An application can be made by way of a one-sided application to the effect that payments be made to the District Court clerk’s office. Â Where payments are made to the clerk and there are arrears, the clerk receives a request from the spouse (maintenance creditor), who may make an application for an attachment of earnings order or other order.
Other maintenance applications and orders on foot thereof include
- maintenance orders pending proceedings
- order to secure an existing order for maintenance
- lump sum orders
Enforcement Maintenance
An application for attachment orders may be made to the District Court as well as the High Court or Circuit Court. It is directed to the maintenance debtor, employer or pension trustees.
If granted, it operates as a direction that the person must make periodical deductions and pay them as the court orders.  A distinction is made between the normal deduction rate and the protected earnings rate. Each must be specified.
Internation Maintenace
Ireland is a party to various international Conventions for the recovery of maintenance from persons living in a country which is a party. There are reciprocal arrangements with the jurisdictions in the United Kingdom whereby foreign maintenance orders registered and recognised under the legislation can be enforced in the same way as a domestic maintenance order. The attachment of earnings proceedings may apply.
Child Care
Child-care proceedings are held in the District Court. As for family proceedings, generally, they are held otherwise in public. There are procedures and provisions in the rules for applying for an emergency care order, an interim care order and a care order.
An application may be made by the HSE and served on the parents having custody. Application may be made for the preparation of the report under the child-care legislation.
Applications can be made for direction and supervision pending care orders. The court may make an order directed to parents requiring contribution towards maintenance. There is also provision for supervision orders, orders for visitations and for other directions. There are provisions for applications to vary the various types of orders.
A request by a child to be present during the hearing may be made by letter addressed to the court or orally.