To ask the Minister for Communities, in light of the cost of living crisis, to provide a timescale for the signing of the contract between her Department and FairShare to allow the purchase of food for delivery to the charity sector.

My Department provides grant funding to FareShare. My officials continue to work on options to provide additional support to mitigate the effects of the Cost of Living crisis should further funding become available.

I remain absolutely committed to finding ways to provide as much support as possible in the coming months but the challenges we face are being made greater due to the continued absences of a functioning Executive and an agreed budget.