Debate contribution: Children's Hospice
Debate contribution by Mr Robin Swann on .
- MLA
- Mr Robin Swann
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 February 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Questions for Urgent Oral Answer
- Heading
- Children's Hospice
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4218322
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for his support. I would not want to indulge any sort of advertising in the Chamber, Mr Speaker, but I congratulate the Member for what he is doing and encourage anyone who is in the Chamber or is listening and wants to support Mr Kingston in his fundraising to do so. I will certainly contribute to that as well. While we see the imperfect balance of the 30%/70% mix of statutory and voluntary contributions, the Children's Hospice has been clear that the issue has been due to a downturn in voluntary subscriptions to what is a very worthy charity organisation and the work that it does. I hope that what has happened in the past week raises the profile of the Children's Hospice and that we see a benefit in an increase in funding. I commend Mr Kingston for his endeavours.
I thank the Member. Can I just say that I will miss her presence on the Health Committee? I notice that she has managed to ask two supplementary questions that are not directly related to the question for urgent oral answer. Support for cancer charities is crucial. With regard to the cancer charities support fund and the mental health fund that I was able to establish during the last mandate, I do not, at this minute in time, have any budgetary leeway to extend those programmes in this financial year, no matter how hard I try or how hard I look. I am conscious that we are approaching the end of a financial year, so, through the Member's support and that of her colleagues on the Executive, I look forward to receiving an endorsement for the health budget.
283 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.