Over 1,000 families with disabled children are set to “go without” as a result of the Family Fund running out of money, it has been claimed.
Cllr Patricia Logue
Derry Cllr Patricia Logue, Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Children and Young People, said she had been notified by the Family Fund notified that it had no more funds to allocate in 2014.
The Fund provides grants to families of children with disabilities in order to supply equipment that will improve the lives of disabled children.
Cllr Logue said she was “disappointed” all the monies had been distributed and up to 1,100 families who have applied for a grant would now miss out.
She added: ”The reduction of the grant in 2011 of 11.25% has had a terrible impact on those families on low incomes who require items such as bed clothing, clothing, kitchen appliances or learning tools.
“The number of families unable to access this funding has grown from 400 in 2011/12 to 1100 this year an increase of nearly 300% in two years.”
Cllr Logue said many of the families include carers who were either elderly or unable to take up employment due to their caring responsibilities and were therefore already under financial stress.
She revealed Sinn Féin has submitted a question to the Minister of Health Edwin Poots asking him to reinstate the monies that had been cut enabling all families to access the grant.
Cllr Logue concluded: “Failure to increase the family fund back to the previous level will again attack the most vulnerable in our society and Mr. Poots must act now to ensure that these 1100 families have the bare necessities to care for their loved one.”
