To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of the recommendation contained in the Review of Department of Education Targeted Early Years Interventions December 2023 report, that, given the significant health outcomes from SureStart and in line with the Children’s Service Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, his Department should consider how they could make further contributions to SureStart.

While I am unable to commit to making further contributions to SureStart at this time due to the scale of the financial challenge facing my department, we will continue to fund the programme’s management team and ensure that all Health and Social Care Trusts continue to prioritise active engagement in the 38 Sure Start programmes through the release of around 250 staff posts and participation in or leadership of individual projects.

My Department also invests in a number of other important family support interventions such as the Family Support Hubs and the Early Intervention Services across Trusts.