PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns said funding being provided by the Health Department to continue after-class child care projects underlines the chaotic state of budget preparation in the DUP-Sinn Fein axis.  

He said: “Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is to be commended for his public spirit in coming to the rescue after Education Minister Ruane failed to get money out of then Finance Minister Peter Robinson for school-age childcare.

“But this is no way to run such an important public service. Michael McGimpsey is absolutely right to say that these projects do not come under his area of responsibility. DUP and Sinn Fein junior ministers may be welcoming his rescue of such vital projects, but they have some neck. This just underlines the chaos in the whole Sinn Fein/DUP budgetary process.

“We warned more than six months ago that there were gaps a mile wide in the Programme for Government and the budget. We very specifically warned about the need to protect cross-cutting funds such as the Children’s and Young Peoples’ Fund which catered for this child-care, because they can target need more efficiently. This was one of many reasons why the SDLP opposed the budget and continues to oppose it. Even at this late stage, it is important that these two parties should get their act together in education and childcare.”

ENDS

12.06.08