To ask the Minister of Health, following the publication of the October 2024 report Enabling Safe Quality Midwifery Services and Care In Northern Ireland report, to detail any progress on a consolidated regional action plan for maternity services.

To progress this work, a Maternity and Neonatal Partnership is required. There is a funding requirement associated with this. As you are aware, my Department is currently facing a significant funding deficit. While it has not been possible to allocate all of the additional funding originally requested to establish this Partnership, I have asked my officials to develop a scaled-back, more affordable option.

I have been advised that this new Partnership will be established in the coming weeks. Once established, work will commence at pace on the development of a consolidated regional action plan for Maternity services. This action plan will outline short, medium and long term actions.

An Oversight Group/Board will also be established as part of the Governance arrangements. The Oversight Group will be responsible for approving the action plan and its agreed implementation.