Government collected more than $4 million in child support payments last year.

And a target of $5 million has been set for 1997.

Magistrates' Court administrative officer Tracey Kelly yesterday told The Royal Gazette that $4,671,523 had been collected last year.

The figure represents a 15 percent increase over 1995, Mr. Kelly said.

And he mainly attributed it to the persistence of court staff and mothers.

"We've had some fellows paying lump sums,'' Mr. Kelly said. "October saw the highest number of collections so far, some $467,000.'' In 1995, parents paid $4,051,475.10 in child payment -- $320,523.39 more than the 1994 figure of $3,730,951.71.

Before then the amounts were: $3,560,051 (1993); $2,876,697 (1992); $2,579,399 (1991); and $2,481,434 (1990).

Mr. Kelly also attributed the increase in collections to the improving economy and employers ability to take the owed funds from delinquent fathers' wages.

While the number of delinquent cases -- some 2,700 -- had not declined significantly, he said: "If we keep doing what we're doing, we'll probably top $5 million (in collections) next year.'' Mr. Kelly also said the court expected to have a better grip on the total amount of child payments owed next year.

"It's said to be around $13 million,'' he said. "But that is an inflated figure. We think that amount was 40 percent over the actual figure.'' But he said it was difficult to tell without reviewing each case. Such a goal should be possible with more full-time staff, he added.

"We had a lot of temporary staff,'' he said. "We now have six, including the Magistrate (Arthur Hodgson). And we've recruited two new people who should be starting in the new year.'' Payments 1990-1996 1996 -- $4,671,523 1995 -- $4,051,475 1994 -- $3,730,951 1993 -- $3,560,051 1992 -- $2,876,697 1991 -- $2,579,399 1990 -- $2,481,434 Source: Magistrates' Court