It comes after the Department of Health confirmed today (29 Jan) that an additional respite facility in the South Eastern Trust will be unable to open, despite promises made to families, and Alliance Party representatives, dating back 10 months.

They also confirmed that they are unable to provide a time frame for the reopening of Lindsay House.

Ms McAllister has said: “My party colleagues and I have repeatedly been told that short breaks from Lindsay House would be facilitated once the residential facility in Redwood was reopened.

“These promises have been made since March 2025, yet we are now receiving confirmation that, despite Redwood opening this month, there is no likelihood of Lindsay House reopening anytime soon and no projected time frame for that going forward.

“The Health Minister announced great investment into children’s respite services in October 2024. However, despite this investment, families are still unable to access the respite and short break facilities they need, often leading to them having no choice but to place their child into a residential facility.

“These families are facing a heartbreaking situation, and it is unacceptable that the Department of Health and the South Eastern Trust have led them to believe that provision was within touching distance only for this to not be the case.

“I have requested that the Health Minister comes to the floor of the Assembly next Monday to answer urgent questions on how this was allowed to happen, and what actions his department and the South Eastern Trust are taking to urgently re-establish respite provision for families in need."