Ulster Unionist MLA John McCallister has questioned why the First and deputy First Ministers have announced a further six-month extension to the Minority Ethnic Development Fund rather than putting in place more secure and long-term funding as they promised in April of this year.
John McCallister said:
“On Friday the First and deputy First Ministers announced a six-month extension to the Minority Ethnic Development Fund and stated that it would “allow time to progress work on a revised Racial Equality Strategy in line with recommendations identified in a recent evaluation of the Minority Ethnic Development Fund (MEDF).”
“Whilst I fully support the funding of this important initiative, I cannot help but wonder what OFMdFM have been doing for the last six months because on the 3rd April this year they issued a press release in which they stated they were extending the very same fund for a period of six months to “allow time to put in place approvals and arrangements for a new multi-annual fund from 1 October 2012 to the end of the CSR period.”
“Clearly this has not been achieved and as a result another six month extension has been agreed. This means uncertainty and an inability to plan for the future and is hardly designed to boost staff morale of organisations and groups who rely on this Fund."
"It is absolutely essential that the First Minister and deputy First Minister take some action to ensure that in six months’ time we are not faced with a situation where the best they can do is announce yet another six month extension. Ethnic minorities require that this funding is given on a more secure and long term footing i.e. to the end of this CSR period as they promised in April.”
“This is the latest in a long line of poor governance from OFMdFM, ranging from the failure to yet spend any of the £80 million in the Social Investment Fund to the delays in negotiating a decision on Corporation Tax, and it must be addressed in the next six months.”