To ask the Minister of Health (i) to detail the process by which the family of autistic children can access direct support payments; (ii) whether this process can be expedited if a child requires urgent intervention; and (iii) what plans he has to make these processes simpler and faster for families.

Expenditure on road infrastructure is not recorded on an Assembly Constituency basis, rather it is analysed by District Council. The Strangford Constituency includes road infrastructure primarily in the Ards and North Down Council area, Lisburn and Castlereagh; and Newry, Mourne and Down Council areas.

Final audited expenditure outturn by District Council area for 2020-21 is not yet available, however outturn for the financial years 2017-18 to 2019-20 is included in Table 1.

Table 1

The percentage of the total council expenditure in Table 1 compared to the overall council outturn for the North is provided in Table 2.

Table 2

It should also be noted that while expenditure can occur in one District Council area, the benefits are not confined to the district council area in which they are located. Expenditure on road improvements may fluctuate annually reflecting funding availability and schemes undertaken.