AQW 41254/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education whether he intends to extend the funding provided to the Tiny Life charity, beyond March 2026.

Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 24 February 2026

  • Answered
  • Written
  • Priority
Tabled
24 February 2026
Answer due by
27 February 2026
Answered
27 February 20263 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
Yes

Answer

The Budgets for 2026-27 or subsequent periods have not yet been formally set by the Executive. However, the Finance Minister has published his proposals in respect of a draft budget for 2026-2029/30 and a consultation exercise is currently underway. Current indications are that the Department will have a resource funding gap of c£0.7bn increasing to over £1 billion in 2028-29.

I am therefore not presently in a position to provide any commitments to funding. Any decision regarding future funding will be considered in the context of my Department’s 2026-27 budget allocation and wider financial pressures.

Official sources