To ask the Minister of Health when support from the Family Fund will be provided for carers or adults with disabilities.

My Department provides funding to Family Fund specifically to provide grant support for families in NI on low incomes who are raising disabled or seriously ill children aged 17 or under. Positive outcomes are achieved for the disabled children, and for the wider family including the child’s parents and/or carers. Family Fund also operate a smaller fund called 'Your Opportunity' which is a UK-wide grant scheme which can support disabled young adults aged 18-24. Family Fund is seeking to expand this scheme subject to securing additional sources of funding. My Department provided funding of £2.072m to Family Fund in 2021/22, including an additional £500k to help families with a disabled or seriously ill child cope with the challenges they faced during the pandemic.