It has been confirmed that the Sure Start and Youth Service budgets will not be cut despite earlier warnings from the Department of Education.

Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Karen Mullan welcomed the news.

Speaking today, the Foyle MLA commented: “The protection of the Sure Start and Youth Services budgets, along with the reversal of the school uniform cut, were three of our key priorities across a number of engagements with the Education Authority and departmental officials over recent weeks.

“We greatly welcomed the u-turn on the school uniforms and now the department has also confirmed that Sure Start and Youth Services spending will not be cut after all.

“This news will come as a great relief to the thousands of families who benefit from Sure Start and Youth Services across the North and of course, those employed within these services who have been facing a great deal of uncertainty ever since the department indicated a number of weeks ago that the budgets were to be cut.”

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