Discretionary Support Scheme
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Communities to detail his plans to adopt the recommendations of the expert panel on Discretionary Support to improve the reach and fairness of the current system. Minister for Communities: I recognise the importance of the Discretionary Support Scheme in assisting vulnerable people in a crisis … Continue reading AQW 14007/22-27 – Expert panel on Discretionary Support
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the funding for Discretionary Support that remains available for allocation in the 2024-25 financial year. Minister for Communities: I have agreed a Discretionary Support Grant budget of £22m in 2024-25, which is an increase of 10% on last year’s budget. For Discretionary … Continue reading AQW 14006/22-27 – Funding for Discretionary Support
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Communities (i) whether the additional criteria for Discretionary Support that was added in summer 2023 due to a limited budget is still in place; and (ii) whether that additional criteria will be removed. Minister for Communities: The changes to the Discretionary Support policy were introduced … Continue reading AQW 14005/22-27 – Discretionary Support Scheme
SDLP MLA for Mid Ulster, Patsy McGlone, met with Department for Communities officials in Dungannon on Thursday to discuss the operation of the Discretionary Support scheme. Along with Mr McGlone, the SDLP delegation included Mid Ulster Councillors Christine McFlynn and Martin Kearney, and representatives from other areas. Discretionary Support replaced the Social Fund Community Care … Continue reading SDLP Meets Department for Communities over Discretionary Support Scheme