Cuts to Ryan McBride Foundation funding slammed

Cuts to the funding of the Ryan McBride Foundation have been slammed by a local MLA.

The Foundation provides coaching and support to children in more than 30 schools across Derry. 

Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy (Sinn Féin) said the decision to axe funding for the Ryan McBride Foundation was disgraceful and would have a detrimental impact on children and young people.

He added: "The Ryan McBride Foundation is a fantastic project that provides football coaching and support to children in over 30 schools across the city, and helps develop young people’s physical and emotional well-being through sport. 

"It’s clear that our children are feeling the worst impacts of cruel and savage Tory cuts which has been laid bare with the decision to scrap holiday hunger payments and other vital programmes in our schools.  

"This is the real outworking of one party’s blockade on the Executive that has left decision making on Budgets here in the hands of Tory ministers in London and is preventing local ministers from working in people’s best interests. 

"We need an Executive formed now and all parties working together around the table to support local communities and our public services against the very worst of Tory austerity.”