5. Mr Mathison asked the Minister of Justice for an update on the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) pilot in the Youth Justice Agency. (AQO 1919/22-27)

I am delighted to say that the CAMHS partnership between the Youth Justice Agency and Health and Social Care has now been rolled out across Northern Ireland. I have been able to prioritise £155,000 from within the Department's budget to support it this year, with the rest coming from the Youth Justice Agency's budget and from Health and Social Care.

Many children involved in offending behaviour struggle with their mental health. Due to their vulnerabilities and sometimes chaotic lives and family contexts, they also struggle to engage in a consistent way with mainstream child and adolescent mental health services. The new partnership with the Youth Justice Agency takes a different approach. Through assertive outreach, children are supported to receive the help that they require in a way that meets their needs, and that assists in reducing their offending behaviour. The results so far have been really encouraging, and we will be initiating an evaluation of the service later in the year.

That brings to a conclusion the time for listed questions. We now move to topical questions.