To ask the Minister of Health whether any steps will be taken to ensure that children and young people under 25 with cancer in Northern Ireland do not face additional challenges caused by the cost of travel to treatment compared to their counterparts in England, given that the UK Government has now accepted Young Lives vs Cancer's proposal for a £10 million Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund.

Officials from my Department have engaged with Young Lives vs Cancer on the issue of travel cost support for children and young people undergoing cancer treatment. I also met with Young Lives vs Cancer to hear their concerns directly.

Health is a devolved responsibility in Northern Ireland, and decisions on the design and funding of local support schemes must therefore be taken within the context of the Northern Ireland Executive’s budget and priorities.

While my Department has considered the charity’s proposals, given the significant pressures on the Department’s budget, it has not been possible to consider any additional financial support other than that which is currently available.