MP accuses Stormont of 'wriggling out' of addiction centre commitment

An MP has accused Stormont's Department of Health (DoH) of trying to "wriggle out" of funding a new addiction treatment centre in Londonderry.

The SDLP MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood said funding for a new centre in Derry was outlined in the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement, which restored Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive in 2020.

Six years on, plans for Northlands to relocate to a new site on the Culmore Road as an addiction centre of excellence have not happened.

The DoH previously said NDNA only referred to potential funding for the project but did not include a specific commitment to it and they continued to engage with the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

A NIO spokesperson said the government "remains committed to providing funding as set out in New Decade, New Approach".

"It's for the Northern Ireland Executive's Department of Health to make a business case for projects for which they are seeking funding, as with all government funding commitments," the spokesperson added.

BBC Radio Foyle has approached the DoH for a specific response to Eastwood's comments.

The Executive Office (TEO) has also been approached for comment.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, the MP said he helped negotiate a £1m funding commitment in 2020 for the redevelopment of Northlands.

He said £1m would not complete the project, estimated to cost about £20m, but would have been a starting point.

Established as a grassroots organisation in 1975, Northland's addiction centre in has grown into one of the leading facilities of its kind in Northern Ireland.

It helps people with addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling and around 800 people received non-residential care there in 2025.

"We know the impact that alcoholism and drug addiction has had in Derry and the surrounding areas, and they need as much support as possible," Eastwood said.

"Northlands has been there for the people of Derry, but they've had to largely do it on their own… It needs to be properly supported by our Executive."

Eastwood said the money was secured from the British government to be implemented by Stormont, but claimed the DoH had "tried to wriggle out of that commitment".

"Frankly, it's infuriating. It was £1m - that wasn't going to do the job, but it was the British government saying, 'Look, we believe in this project.'"

He said several ministers had confirmed in the House of Commons that the funding was intended for Northlands.

"It is utterly ridiculous that they haven't got it done," he added.

"Why should we be denied a state-of-the-art centre to look after our most vulnerable people?"

Eastwood described the department's position suggesting that the funding was not to Northlands specifically as "utter nonsense" and urged Stormont to "get on with the job" of closing the funding gap and delivering the centre.

The Department of Health (DoH) previously said it invested more than £35m in substance use services each year.

"The overriding objective will be to provide the best substance use services possible within the available resources," the statement said.

Denis Bradley, one of the founders of Northlands, said a new centre would be a "beacon of hope".

"The department will quote you all kinds of figures but the truth of the matter is, very little money goes into addiction and quite often where it goes in is the wrong places it goes into," he said.

"The department needs to get a little bit more clever, a bit more sophisticated and stop being so ... defensive around an issue that they actually could make great advances in."

The government's specific commitment to funding Northlands was confirmed by then NIO minister Steve Baker during a Westminster debate in November 2022, according to Hansard, the government's official record of proceedings.

"The government welcome this opportunity to make it clear that we are committed to supporting the Derry/Londonderry addiction centre and providing it with £1 million from unique circumstances funding under the New Decade, New Approach agreement," he told Parliament.

He said "it seems to me a very sensible approach to use Northlands to deliver what is required".

"I stress that the government stand ready to provide the funding once we have received and approved the Northern Ireland Executive Department of Health's proposals for the Derry/Londonderry addiction centre," Baker told MPs.

"As I said earlier, Northlands seems a particularly sensible way to proceed. The Northern Ireland Office continues to engage with counterparts in the Executive to make that happen."