SIR: In reference to your report in the BEN of May 15 concerning Ms Dawn Grundy and the Child Support Agency. I wish to congratulate Ms Grundy for standing up to this Agency.

The CSA (Caring, Sharing Agency) do not CARE how little they leave the so-called absent parent to live on, or indeed their second family. They do not SHARE any of the monies they extract in the name of children, as the money is deducted pound for pound from any benefit received; therefore the children are no better off.

It is interesting to read that the spokesperson for the CSA says that the welfare of the children is paramount, yet reduces the funds required to keep three children by half. How are these children to be fed? This system can only lead to an increased level of violence towards women, because the absent parent can be thousands of pounds a year better off if they are violent to their ex-partners; the CSA will not pursue cases in this situation. The only people the CSA are concerned about is the 'absent parent' who is working and on PAYE, therefore a deduction of earnings order is easily applied to enable monies to be taken, not for children, but for the State.

Nobody involved with the CSA is in the least happy with the system, or the performance of the Agency and this legislation must be changed immediately to make the system fair to all parties, especially the children.

A support group for CSA victims exists in Bolton and meets on the first Tuesday in the month at the Victory Reform Club, Chorley Old Road, Bolton, at 8.30pm.

(name and address supplied)

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