Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey has accused the Health Minister of deliberately keeping the Assembly and families in the dark regarding the multi-million pound underspend on support for adult learning disability services in the Western Health and Social Care Trust. Michelle O’Neill has failed to provide Ross Hussey with a number of answers to Assembly Questions, despite the deadline for doing so being over three weeks ago.

Mr Hussey said:

"The sheer scale of the underspend in startling. Anger is still growing as further details are being pieced together regarding the underspend on core support for adult learning disabilities by the Western Health and Social Care Trust for over 20 years. Frustration amongst the families involved however, along with members of the public, is continuing to grow long after the underspend was detected, and the main reason is the condescending treatment being shown by the Minister and some of the officials involved.

“Her behaviour, and particularly her continuing refusal to answer basic questions in a timely manner, is disgraceful. Last month I sent a number of ‘priority’ Assembly Questions to her which asked for an update on the investigation of the underspend for services for adults with learning disabilities in the Western Health and Social Care Trust. I also asked whether she has appointed a lead official to deal with the Trust; the latest details of the underspend from the initial findings in 1998 to date, and finally to list any meetings she had held with the Chief Executive of the Trust and senior directors about this issue.

“Unfortunately, despite the answers being due on 18 October, over three weeks later I and the families involved are still waiting.

“In June I, along with my Fermanagh and South Tyrone colleague Rosemary Barton MLA, led a debate in the Assembly during which the Minister inferred that she would treat this matter with urgency. That’s sadly not the case. Rosemary and I, having met with families directly affected by underspend, will continue to keep pushing the matter to get the answers from the Minister.

“Once again I have tabled a request for an adjournment debate on this matter because it seems that the only way we are going to get answers is by bringing this back to the floor of the Assembly. It’s a shame the Minister is continuing to shirk her responsibility to families and people with adult learning disabilities in the Western Health and Social Care Trust.”