A FORTHCOMING Play Strategy set to be published before the end of 2025 has been criticised because no Budget funding has been allocated by the government to back its implementation.
Assistant Children’s Minister Malcolm Ferey confirmed during question time in the States Assembly that the strategy was on track, but that initially the expectation was that parishes would need to source funds.
Central funding from government would need to provided in future years, Deputy Ferey confirmed, having not formed part of the Budget recently lodged.
Constable Karen Stone said: “I don’t think it’s fair for the government to say that ‘we have this strategy’ and then not offer funding – my parish [St Martin] operates on a shoestring budget and all parishes contribute to central government via the all-Island rate.”
Deputy Ferey said that he agreed that the implementation of the strategy should be a joint matter between government and the parishes. He added that the strategy would include a clear timeline and measures of success, in line with a query from the Member asking the original question, Deputy Inna Gardiner.
