Issue 86 - Belfast BT4 • BT5 • BT16
Translink fares frozen
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed that Translink fares will remain unchanged for a second year in a row, despite significant financial pressures across the public transport system.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt with kinship carers. L-R Ruth McGuigan; Scot Hamilton; Anita Montgomery; Thomas Spence; Tracey McGuire; Brenda Slowey; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Kerrylee Weatherall, Interim Executive Director of Social Work.
NI’s first Kinship Care Celebration Week
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has paid tribute to the compassion and commitment of kinship foster carers at an event marking Northern Ireland’s first Kinship Care Celebration Week. The focus of the week is to recognise and show gratitude to kinship foster carers who provide such positive experiences for the children in their care, often in difficult circumstances. Kinship Care is an arrangement where a child who cannot be cared for by their parents is placed by a
Health & Social Care Trust with a relative or family friend. “Kinship care is a specialised type of care for a child which has unique strengths. It is a fundamental cornerstone of the children’s care system in Northern Ireland,” the Minister said.
“Kinship foster carers open their homes and their lives to children who need safety, stability, and security. You are the relatives, the grandparents, the older siblings, the aunts and uncles, and the close family friends who step up and make a real difference to so many young people in
our community. “This week we want to say a huge thank you for all that you do. You embody the core values of compassion and commitment.”
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The decision comes at a time when households are facing rising fuel and living costs and when public transport continues to play a vital role in helping people get to work, education and essential services. Minister Kimmins said: “In the current context of rising fuel and oil prices, I do not believe it would be right to increase public transport fares and place further pressure on workers and families. Many people rely on buses and trains every day and keeping fares stable helps provide some certainty at a very challenging time.” The Minister acknowledged that the decision was taken
against a difficult funding backdrop: “I am fully aware of the financial pressures facing Translink and the wider public sector. This is an extremely constrained budget environment and there are no easy choices. Freezing fares for a second year has required careful consideration.” Minister Kimmins also stressed that she will continue to engage closely with Translink as the financial situation evolves. She said: “I will keep working with Translink to manage these pressures responsibly and to ensure the best possible services within the funding available.”