Mr Mathison was speaking following an announcement by the Education Authority that schemes are being called off across Northern Ireland due to concerns over the healthcare available for participating children.

"It is incredibly frustrating that this decision has been made. Whilst I understand that this has been taken on grounds of safety, we should not be in a position where a lack of funding means that families and children miss out on a resource that is an absolute lifeline for many over the summer months," said Mr Mathison.

"There have been historical failings in this area, and Alliance has been raising the crisis within nursing services in our special schools for many years now. This issue has now come to a head, with our most vulnerable children and families suffering as a result.

"This is not a new issue for either department. Nursing provision and the safety of children apply to summer schemes as much as they do to the daily running of special schools. Both Health and Education should have been working on this issue throughout the year to ensure adequate nursing provision for summer schemes. Today's announcement is an abject failure by both Ministers to work together on a key issue.

"I would urge both the Education and Health Ministers to act urgently to resolve this issue, which will have a devastating impact across Northern Ireland.

"It is simply not good enough to just remove a provision which many families rely on over the summer months. The responsibility now lies with the Ministers to work together and ensure that children and families do not suffer as a result of their failure to collaborate and address this issue meaningfully."