Education Minister Paul Givan is under attack from local politicians for creating insecurity in Youth Service funding as he changes the method by which the service will be funded
• Mason questions Education Minister’s reasoning over youth service funding
• Galbraith raises concerns over long-term youth service funding uncertainty.
Education Minister Paul Givan is under attack from local South Down politicians who claim that his realignment of finances that were previously ringfenced for Youth Services will in the future now be subject to competition from other services under the Education budget.
Cathy Mason, Sinn Féin Education spokesperson, and SDLP Downpatrick Councillor Conor Galbraith have both attacked the Minister for creating uncertainty and insecurity within the Youth Service which provides a valuable pillar in youth development and building a healthy society in South Down and across Northern Ireland.
Down News is awaiting a response from the Education Authority and will post it as soon as it arrives.
The response update: A Department of Education spokesperson said: “The Education Authority will continue to receive funding to deliver both schools and youth services. Moving to a composite block grant simply brings youth funding into line with other established education budget processes.
“This gives the EA the flexibility to make appropriate, evidence‑based decisions, while all spending remains subject to policy, legislation and Departmental oversight.”
***
Paul Givan’s ‘reckless’ changes to how youth services are funded must be stopped says Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason has called on the Education Minister to step back from the ‘reckless’ changes he has made to how funding for youth services is allocated. Previously, the Department of Education set aside a separate pot of funding for youth services, but this will now form part of the Education Authority’s wider budget.
The South Down MLA said: “Youth services like the Patrician in Downpatrick are invaluable to our children and young people, giving them a safe space away to build skills, confidence, and resilience.
“Despite this, Education Minister Paul Givan is pushing ahead with reckless changes that will heap even more pressure on already stretched organisations and workers.
“These will force vital youth services to compete with other Education Authority responsibilities, with no guarantee that the current level of funding will be maintained.
“As well as this, Paul Givan’s department has only provided community and voluntary groups with a guarantee of funding for the first four months of this financial year.
“Before serious harm is done, the minister must step back from this approach and begin treating our youth organisations with the respect they deserve.”
***
Galbraith Expresses His Concerns About The Future Of Youth Service Funding
SDLP Downpatrick Councillor Conor Galbraith who is a youth worker at the Patrician Youth Centre in Downpatrick has raised serious concerns about the Education Minister’s current approach to youth services funding, warning it could lead to further cuts and significant harm to young people and communities.
Councillor Galbraith’s comments follow confirmation that funding for youth services has only been secured until June, with money no longer ring-fenced and at risk of being diverted elsewhere within the education budget.
The move has prompted concerns across the sector, particularly among voluntary organisations already dealing with years of sustained financial pressure.
SDLP Councillor Conor Galbraith said: “As someone who has worked in youth services for over 20 years, I have seen first-hand the growing impact of repeated cuts on the ground.
“The voluntary youth sector has been asked to do more with less for years, and it is now at breaking point.
“Here in Downpatrick, youth services play a vital role in supporting young people. They provide safe spaces, guidance and opportunities that many rely on every day.
“The approach being taken risks creating further uncertainty and could lead to a reduction in services at a time when they are needed most.
“It is young people in our community who will ultimately feel the consequences of these decisions.
“I will be writing to the Education Minister Paul Givan to outline the impact these cuts are having locally and to call for clarity and proper support to protect these vital services.”
