AQO 456/22-27 Oral question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on the support he is providing to the community and independent advice sectors through the Community Support Programme to ensure their services are sustainable.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 9 May 2024
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 9 May 2024
- Answer due by
- 20 May 2024
- Answered
- 20 May 202411 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 20 May 2024. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr Lyons
My Department invests significant annual grant funding in the region of £6·6 million to support the delivery of independent community-based advice and debt services to people in communities across Northern Ireland. In 2022, my Department moved to a minimum two-year grant funding allocation, which will soon be extended for a third year, to assist with sustainability and stability of services.
Ms Bradshaw
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Recently, I visited a couple of advice centres in my constituency. Their managers are concerned that they will lose talented and experienced advice workers if there is no firm commitment of continued funding. Can you advise when they will get their letters of offer?
Mr Lyons
Obviously, I received my Department's final budget settlement only in the past number of weeks. That is still being worked through. The Member will be aware of the funding that is being made available via the UK Government for that service. I hope that that will be able to continue. I hope to be able to give clarity as soon as possible.
Mr Gildernew
In acknowledgement of the pressure that those staff are under, Minister, can you give a date of when you intend to publish the public consultation on the independent advice and debt policy and delivery framework?
Mr Lyons
My officials have worked with the advice sector and engaged extensively with stakeholders to develop proposals for how we will support the delivery of integrated advice and debt services in the future through our funding. I expect the consultation on those proposals to launch in the summertime.
Ms Forsythe
Will the Minister commit to working with third-party providers like Christians Against Poverty (CAP), who also play such a valuable role in supporting the most vulnerable people in local communities?
Mr Lyons
I absolutely agree with what the Member has said. I have worked with organisations, including Christians Against Poverty, in my constituency and can see the impact that they have had. I want to ensure that we can have partnerships and work with all those who are determined to help to address the issue right across Northern Ireland. We need to continue to look at best practice elsewhere, because there are issues with uptake of debt advice in Northern Ireland. That is where coordination with fantastic organisations like CAP can really make a difference.