The Lagan Valley MLA was speaking after Young Enterprise was informed its funding from the Department of Education had been cut, decreasing by more than half its annual funding. It comes only weeks after the organisation was mentioned in US President Joe Biden’s speech at Ulster University.

“This charity has played a crucial role in developing the enterprise and entrepreneurial skills of young people in Northern Ireland for decades,” said Ms Eastwood.

“Our young people are our skills and talent pipeline for the future. Therefore these cuts are damaging not just in the here and now, but to NI's economic future- if we want to have a strong economy with young people skilled and ready to play their part in it, cuts to organisations like Young Enterprise are shortsighted and setting us up to fail for the future" 

"I am confident that the team at YE will work their way through this with the support of business and community, but it is a shameful situation that an organisation that was front and centre of showcasing the best of Northern Ireland in an acknowledgement of the excellent work that they do, has now been left in this situation. As every day passes, it is clearer than ever that we need an Assembly and Executive in place."