Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has visited the new CLIC Sargent 'Home from Home' on the Falls Road, Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Executive committed £70,000 of funding towards this newly constructed accommodation, through the Department for Social Development's Urban Development Grants programme.

CLIC Sargent is the UK's leading cancer charity for children and young people and 'Home from Homes' are places where families can stay free of charge so that they can be close to their child during their cancer treatment. There are currently eight CLIC Sargent houses around the UK, but the development on the Falls Road is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

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Minister McCausland said: "CLIC Sargent's 'Home from Home' provides an invaluable service to parents who can stay in a welcoming, non-clinical environment for free. It allows the whole family to be together while their child is undergoing treatment at the nearby Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Minister McCausland said: "The Northern Ireland Executive, through my Department, has been able to provide the much needed financial support to enable the completion of this accommodation which will ease the burden on families when they are experiencing particular difficulties."