SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath has responded to the statement from interim victims’ advocate Brendan McAllister regarding the payment for victims of historical institutional abuse.
Mr McGrath, who is chair of the Executive Office Committee, said: “There is general understanding and acceptance that the upper threshold payment for victims of historical abuse should be raised. The figures were set a number of years ago and the Committee feel they should be increased.
“However, the overriding concern is the actual allocation of payments and we do not want to see anything that would delay or detract from that.
“The Committee has agreed to commission a report into the potential to raise these payments and if this can be done, it would be very welcome.”
