Foyle MP Colum Eastwood says £32,000 for Community Crisis Intervention Centre is a welcome relief

Robin Swann MLA, Minister of Health, second from right, pictured with Joe Thompson, Project Co-ordinator CCIS, Colr. Darren Guy, Mayor of Derry and Strabane Colr. Brian Tierney, Colr. Andy McKane and Sharon Hill, Project Manager CCIS, during a visit to Extern on Tuesday morning last. DER2025GS - 017

The funding, announced by Mr. Swann on Tuesday, will allow the service to continue until September.

The Foyle MP said: “Minister Swann visited Derry today and had the opportunity to see firsthand the powerful work that the CCIS do in our city and across the North West.

"This vital service was at risk of closure in a matter of weeks due to funding pressures. I am delighted that Minister Swann has agreed to fund the Service until September, preventing imminent closure. Along with party colleagues, Mayor Brian Tierney, Mark H Durkan MLA and Cara Hunter MLA, I extensively lobbied Minister Swann to make this funding available.”

Mr. Eastwood said sustainable funding for the service needed to be found.

“As welcome as this relief funding is, we still need to fight to ensure a long-term and sustainable funding solution for this critical service, which currently will not stay afloat past September. I will continue to engage with Extern, Derry and Strabane District Council and Executive Ministers to ensure necessary funding is made available.”

“It is vital to keep this service going, allowing the fantastic staff and volunteers to continue to save lives and support our most vulnerable.”