Scrooge-style funding for local children caused by segregation

9.56.36am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Jul 2007

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA has expressed disgust at the news that research has shown far less public money is invested in children in Northern Ireland than in any other part of the UK. He stated that this underfunding happens because so much cash is wasted on keeping Northern Ireland a segregated society. This research was published today by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley.

Opposition MLA, Mr McCarthy, said: "This report hammers home the fact that local children are being grossly underfunded by government.

"The Executive must address this underfunding and look at new ways of freeing-up cash to ensure that better services are provided to our children.

"We have underfunding across the board and local people are suffering because so much cash is wasted on keeping Northern Ireland a segregated society.

"An Alliance Party study has shown that one billion pounds is wasted every year on segregation. This cash is wasted on keeping unnecessary duplicated services and segregated schools. If we worked towards creating shared services and integrated schools we could start freeing-up this one billion pounds annually."

ENDS