Northern Ireland will become the only UK region not to provide every baby with free books after the Department for Education withdrew £75,000 per annum funding towards the scheme.

Cllr Anthony Flynn said: "The culling of funding for the Book Start Baby programme is the latest in a long line of cuts and culls due to financial pressure experienced by Departments. Yet, the Stormont stalemate continues, the DUP's boycott remains intact, representing a shameless dereliction of leadership and duty from locally elected MLAs who refuse to form an Executive.

"The politics of refusal is failing people from the cradle to the grave. The ending of the Baby Start Book programme means that our youngest children will miss put on the cognitive development benefits, improved language skills and bonding experiences brought about by the scheme."

Cllr Flynn continued:

"Meanwhile other UK regions continue with the scheme and their babies and families will see its benefits as they progress through childhood. Where is the outcry about a books for babies border down the Irish Sea?" 

ENDS