Ten new family hubsplanned across NI but none in Londonderry

However, three existing hubs in the Waterside, Shantallow and the wider Creggan/Bogside area will receive support through the funding roll-out.

There are currently 16 hubs in place across Northern Ireland and another 10 are planned.

Sinn Féin MLA Maeve McLaughlin asked the Minister of Health Edwin Poots, whether Londonderry would benefit from an additional hub “given the high levels of child poverty in the Foyle constituency.”

Back in March the Sentinel revealed 6k local children were classified as being ‘in need’ at the end of last September.

But Mr Poots said Londonderry is well enough served with the three hubs it currently has.

“There are currently three family support hubs in Londonderry, Waterside, Shantallow and Creggan/Bogside. No more are planned,” he said.

A planned £3m investment, however, will support existing hubs.

According to Mr Poots there are currenty 16 established family support hubs: seven in the Western Trust; and three each in the Southern, South Eastern and Northern Trusts.

There are plans for another 10 hubs. One is currently planned for Belfast whilst another additional hub is coming ‘on-line’ in the Northern Trust.

Mr Poots explained: “My Department has lead responsibility for the delivery of an additional 10 Family Support hubs under the Deliver Social Change Programme Direct family Support signature project.”

He mentioned the two new hubs in Belfast and the Northern Trust but didn’t say whether the other eight would be other than to say they won’t be here.

The Health Minister went on to state: “In line with the Outcomes Groups priorities to enhance the existing early intervention services, the planning for additional investment in early intervention services to support Hub work has been completed and is ready to move to procurement.

“An evaluation system for Hubs has been introduced across all existing Hubs and data capture will start across all Hubs for monitoring and evaluation purposes.”