Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann has welcomed the fact that the Employment and Learning Minister has finally made an announcement on European Social Funding applications, whilst again expressing his frustration and disappointment at how this entire application process has been handled from its instigation.
The North Antrim MLA and chair of the Assembly’s DEL committee said:
“The Employment and Learning Committee has spent a lot of time on the European Social Fund issue and engaged extensively with the Voluntary and Community sector, raising our concerns with both the Minister and his Departmental Officials.
“According to the Minister, the European Social Fund has been oversubscribed by 80%, and as a result, many organisations and worthwhile projects will no longer be funded by his Department. I am concerned this will affect the most vulnerable in our society who have no other avenues to fund their support programmes, especially since the Minister ceased funding the Community Family Support Programme and the Collaboration and Innovation Fund.
“I give my assurance to the voluntary and community sector, as Chair of the Employment & Learning Committee, that we will continue to hold the Minister and Department to account on this issue. I believe the application and assessment process has not been well handled and lessons must be learned.”