The Ulster Unionist Chairperson of Stormont’s Employment and Learning Committee, Robin Swann MLA, has warned that hundreds of employees in voluntary and community organisations are currently on protective notice.

 Mr Swann said;

 “It is simply unacceptable that over 130 organisations such as youth bodies and disability groups are yet to be told what, if any, funding they will have after 31 March. The Department has walked itself into the ridiculous situation of processing applications for funding to the European Social Fund Programme just three weeks before the current money runs out.

 “As Chair of the Employment and Learning Committee I am well aware of the importance of this funding. It is absolutely critical to the continued existence of dozens of local organisations and schemes. By ‘hoping’ to inform applicants about their applications for the next tranche of funding only days before the start of the financial year. It means there can be no consistency, no security for staff and no strategic planning.

 “The Minister is desperately trying to claim that on the whole, the process has worked well, whilst laying the blame for the delay entirely on the side of applicants. He is simply shirking his responsibilities. This entire process has been a fiasco from the very start.”

 Questioning the DEL Minister in the Assembly, Mr Swann said;

 “The Minister is well aware of the interest of the Committee for Employment and Learning and the time it has given to the issue. Voluntary and community organisations have staff on notice, programmes on hold and participants at this minute who do not known where they are going. To be very specific, there has been a great change in the number of applications now through phase 1. Can he provide additional detail on the appeal process for phase 1 and phase 2? Will the appeals be available solely on process, or will organisations be able to supply additional or supplementary information? Is the Minister still as confident that this process is not open to legal challenge?”