Debate contribution: Victims and Survivors’ Groups: Funding
Debate contribution by Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly on .
- MLA
- Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 8 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Victims and Survivors’ Groups: Funding
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5600466
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for Mid Ulster for that important question. He is a great advocate for the victims and survivors' sector, particularly on this issue. There is not a week that goes by in which he does not raise the issue with me. He recognises the huge demand that there is on victims and survivors' groups, particularly in relation to mental health and support. More than that, I know that he cares deeply about what victims and survivors are going through at the moment. There is no doubt that key initiatives such as the pension for severely injured victims, what is happening in the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) and the very public conversation about legacy legislation are all having a huge impact on victims and survivors, particularly in relation to their mental health. I am acutely aware that, when we created the historical institutional abuse inquiry mechanisms and structures, there was support for people going through that. It was a trauma-informed approach. There was mental health and counselling support throughout that process. However, we do not have that for many of the issues in relation to the legacy of the Troubles. That needs to be addressed, because that pressure is now being put on victims and survivors' groups. I commit to doing everything that I can to see whether we can get that much-needed additional resource to those groups. I recognise that they are looking at unprecedented demand and pressure because of this really important issue.
251 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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