AQW 43721/22-27


Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast


Tabled Date: 13/04/2026
Answered On Date: 18/08/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail a breakdown of expenditure in 2025-26 of the £13.1 million funding for children’s social care services.


Answer:
The Department has consistently been engaging with Trusts during the 2025/26 year to ensure as much of the recurrent funding available could be applied to support children with disabilities and their families. Trusts have confirmed final funding requirements for the year across a range of proposals. The amount of funding provided per Trust is detailed below (rounded):
Belfast Trust - £2.2m
Northern Trust - £1.4 million;
South Eastern Trust - £2.1million;
Southern Trust - £1.4 million; and
Western Trust - £2.2 million.
This amounts to a total of approximately £9.4 million investment in services for children with disabilities in 2025/26. There was therefore approximately £3.7 million slippage against the original available funding of £13.1 million, in the 2025/26 financial year.
Trusts had encountered challenges in progressing plans for the delivery of residential, short break beds and supported living arrangements, and in the recruitment of staff for the delivery of Trust provided initiatives. However, significant efforts were made by Trusts to develop alternative proposals in year to maximise as far as possible the support to children with disabilities from the available funding.
There is a clear expectation that the full £13.1 million will be spent this year (2026/27). This additional regional funding provided to the Children with Disability Service is being ring-fenced and spent on a range of initiatives to improve family and community support services for children with disability, to increase short break provision and to expand specialist care programs.
The Trusts have also increased contracts with voluntary and community providers, securing additional support for families through a broad range of service initiatives.
Some Trusts have reviewed their original investment proposals for the 2026/27 year, and there has been communication with my officials regarding this. It can be confirmed that any amended proposals do continue to adhere to the key ministerial priorities in respect of this investment to enhance the Children with Disabilities service.