To ask the Minister of Health what funding will be made available for overnight child respite care.

The Department would acknowledge that there are currently significant pressures regarding the short break availability and respite care provision for families who have children with disabilities across Northern Ireland. There has been an increase in children reported to have a disability with a corresponding increase in demand. Access to Short Break and Respite Services is assessed by each HSC Trust, and is determined by individually assessed need.

In terms of improving service provision, the Department of Health has

invested £750,000 in 2021/22 across the five HSC Trusts (£150,000 to each Trust recurrently) with a specific focus to increase capacity and expand the range of short break options for children with disability.

With regard to planning for the future, a Task and Finish group has been established by the Department of Health to finalise the Adult Learning Disability Service Model and the Children with Disabilities (CWD) Framework.

Further, the Department has established a Children’s Services Reform Process to reform Children’s Services. This reform process includes a workstream on Children with a Disability. This workstream will be looking specifically at the regional position in respect of short breaks and respite and will include a focus on demand and capacity. The outcomes of this work will inform future commissioning decisions. Any commissioning of additional respite care provision will require additional funding. Decisions in this regard will be subject to the future budget agreement. As you will know there are many competing demands across health and social care in the context of a very challenging financial position.