Individual Post

POSTED By : DESTINATION NEWRY
Post Date : 23 Jan 2017 10:41 AM
Calls for Education Minster to Restore Youth Work Funding

West Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn has called on the DUP Education Minister, Peter Weir, to reverse the notice of withdrawal of funding for hundreds of Youth Workers right across the North.

On Friday Ms Flynn’s colleague, Fra McCann MLA, wrote to Peter Weir seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the funding withdrawal notice.

Ms Flynn said:

“Many youth groups received letters stating that funding given under the Extended Provision Youth Work programme were now being given notice of withdrawal by the Education Authority.

“My colleague, Fra McCann MLA, immediately requested a meeting with Peter Weir and Sinn Féin has been in close contact with Youth Workers to actively support them in resisting this decision.

“The DUP should roll back on this disgraceful notice of withdrawal of vital funding.

“Recently DUP minister Paul Givan withdrew funding for Irish language bursaries for disadvantaged children under the Liofa scheme.

“The DUP minister was forced to reverse that appalling decision after enormous pressure from Irish language campaigners and from Sinn Féin.

“It's important that political representatives, Youth Workers and community organisations in Belfast and right across the North keep the pressure on the DUP to reverse this disgraceful decision.

“This funding helps to support additional youth work, allowing youth organisations to employ hundreds of workers in the most socially deprived communities across the North.

“These Youth Workers carry out work which makes a huge positive difference to childrens’ lives.

“This was yet another attack by the DUP on working class children.

“Peter Weir needs to reverse the notices of withdrawal of funding and end DUP attacks on vulnerable communities.”