End Underinvestment in Children’s Services

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley, has welcomed today’s Assembly debate on funding children’s services.

Ms Lewsley said decades of under-investment in children, young people and families meant the Northern Ireland Executive had an opportunity to make a marked difference.

“Last year my office showed that less is spent on children and young people than in any other part of the United Kingdom,” said the Commissioner. “The Programme for Government and Budget is an opportunity for Government to show that they want to reduce and eventually close that gap.”

Today’s motion in the Assembly from the All-Party Assembly Group on Children and Young People covered a range of issues from early intervention through to the future of Executive Programme Funds, the Children and Young People’s Priority Funding Package, and the Supporting Families Package.

“It is encouraging that elected members of all the parties represented in the Assembly have shown this commitment to children and young people. I hope this will be reflected by the Executive, especially given their target to eradicate child poverty.”

Notes for Editors

• NICCY’s press release on child poverty, including a written submission to the Committee of the First Minister, deputy First Minister can be found here
• An analysis of public expenditure on children can be found here
• NICCY’s response to the draft Programme for Government and budget can be found here

Issued by:
NICCY Communications Team
Tel: 02890 316397
Fax: 02890 314545
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Email: communications@niccy.org