AQO 2077/22-27

Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 22/05/2025
Answered On Date: 24/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice for her assessment of the affordability of the Barnahus model.

Answer:

ORAL QUESTION No 14 - AQO 2077 22-27

ANSWER

A jointly chaired working group between the Departments of Justice and Health is considering a Barnahus model for Northern Ireland, as this is a shared objective of both mine and the Health Minister.

Whilst cost considerations will form part of ongoing policy development, at present the work is focused on looking at the needs of children and their families and assessing how current best practice, services and pilots, which follow Barnahus principles, can be built upon to design a model that best suits Northern Ireland.

I anticipate that the implementation of any model will require additional resources. Future investment in children’s services will be necessary, and Barnahus provides a proven model for collaboration across services and effective use of resources.