Mr Tennyson has said: “While this is positive news and a huge relief for many families to know their children can attend their usual summer schemes this year, there should never have been such panic and distress caused in the first place. 

“The handling of this situation by both the Education and Health Ministers has been deeply inadequate and, frankly, incompetent. This matter should have been resolved far earlier and never allowed to escalate to the point where concerned parents and the prospect of a recall were needed to prompt action.

“These summer schemes are a vital lifeline for many families and children during the summer months, and it is deeply concerning that they continue to face unnecessary obstacles and are repeatedly forced to fight for the support and provision they need.

“We need to see the full details of what is being proposed by both departments, but Alliance will continue to press this issue until every child receives the summer scheme they were promised.”