AQW 46919/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 22/05/2026
Answered On Date: 29/05/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail (i) whether her Department plans to provide or facilitate funding opportunities for pilot prisoner support projects, beyond June 2026; and (ii) when organisations currently delivering these projects can expect clarity on funding for 2026–27, to allow for service planning.

Answer:

As a budget for 2026/27 has yet to be agreed, I am unable to confirm full allocations for rehabilitation and resettlement interventions. In the interim, to avoid disruption to services which support safe resettlement and reduce reoffending, NIPS has put arrangements in place to allow existing providers to continue delivery until the end of June 2026.

I have asked officials to prioritise early decisions on funding allocations and to notify delivery partners as soon as possible once a budget is confirmed. I recognise the importance of providing certainty to organisations currently delivering these projects to support service planning and continuity.