Call to protect Mid and East Antrim 'frontline service' projects amidst Public Health Agency funding reduction fears
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has been warned that funding by the Public Health Agency may be reduced during the 2026/27 financial year.
In a letter to the local authority, the Public Health Agency stated its financial position is expected to “continue to be very challenging” and will potentially require the PHA to “make some difficult choices regarding its future investment priorities”.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council receives funding from the PHA to deliver home accident prevention and energy efficiency services to provide advice or supply equipment to heat homes to reduce the risk of accidents as well as providing programmes for use of air fryers and slow cookers.
Since 2022/23, 25 community groups in Mid and East Antrim have received funding to run ‘Warm Spaces’ programmes. Last winter, the sum of £12,500 was made available to provide warm, free to use community venues and activities such as crafts, cookery demonstrations and fitness sessions. More than 350 people attended cookery sessions with 20 air fryer sessions held.
Meanwhile, 71 households were referred for fuel poverty grant assistance and 376 ‘Keep Warms’ packs were distributed. Other items distributed included radiator panels. heated throws and six households benefited from an electric heater loan scheme.
There were 214 equipment deliveries to households with a child under five years and 319 home safety checks for householders aged over 65 years with almost 2,500 pieces of equipment provided free of charge overall.
Commenting on a report presented to last week’s meeting of the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee, which advised of “potential for funding shortfall for delivery of these projects going forward”, Carrickfergus Castle DUP Alderman Billy Ashe MBE stated: “This has been a vital service. This is something of a very pointed letter. This is a frontline service. We do not want to see frontline services reduced.”
“If there is a reduction, I would like to see that brought before this council,” he added.
Braid Sinn Fein Cllr Archie Rae reiterated the importance of these services in his local area. “It should be one of these services that is a priority in this area and all areas,” he stressed.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter