To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the progress to provide a new mental health facility in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

The Northern Health and Social Trust received outline business case approval in 2020 for the future provision of mental health services within the Northern Trust. The facility will be known as the Birch Hill Centre for Mental Health.

The Trust has completed RIBA stage 3 design and in line with initial approval, has completed an addendum to the original business case that will be submitted to the Department of Health (DoH) later this month. Once approved this will allow the Trust to move to the next stage - RIBA stage 4 design in advance of tender and full business case.

Following the announcement of the outcome of the 2025 UK wide Spending Review in June, the Department of Finance has commissioned a Budget exercise that will determine the capital budgets for Northern Ireland Department’s for the years 2026-27 to 2029-30.

Whilst I remain hopeful, my ability to commit to funding capital projects, including the important Birch Hill Centre for Mental Health, will depend on the Department of Health capital allocation from the Budget process. The draft Budget outcome is not expected to be confirmed until later this year and will inform the development of the Department of Health capital investment plan which will set out the projects to be taken forward over the next ten years.