Young Alliance slams counselling cutbacks

11.04.25pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Mar 2006

The Alliance Party's youth wing, Young Alliance, has attacked the Government for failing to secure the future of counselling services and after-school facilities for young people.

Chairman Cllr Ian James Parsley stated: "What on earth is the point of a Children's Minister if he cannot secure the future of essential facilities?

"I visited ContactYouth myself in January and they have been doing essential and unique work assisting young people, particularly those suffering from depression. This is the sort of facility that Government itself should be providing, but has relied on the voluntary sector, through largely European funding, to provide. Now the European funding has dried up, the Government is failing to live up to its most basic responsibilities. Young people across Northern Ireland will suffer as a result.

"I have also visited an after-school club in West Belfast. 78 of these facilities are also under threat. The Government is supposedly trying to help women into work and into equal pay, but what are children supposed to do with no after-school facilities? Would the Government prefer them out on the streets?

"This is yet another example of totally contradictory Government policy. It is totally wrong that vulnerable young people are becoming victims of political stagnation and carve-up which they have not brought upon themselves.

"The Government would rather use our money to pay for segregation, than for essential services to counter suicide, debt and lack of leisure facilities. This is what the sectarian carve-up has brought us, and it is totally intolerable.

"I have written to the Minister on behalf of ContactYouth, challenged the Minister to assure us of the resources required to deal with mental health problems among young people, and I can also say with certainty that after-school clubs can be certain of the absolute support of my party."

ENDS