Another fine mess at Stormont
21 September 2011
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister MLA:-
“The logjam at the heart of government has not only left us with no Programme for Government, no government business in the Assembly and no proposed legislation, but, now it emerges, even funds put in place are not being spent.
“The Social Investment Fund and the Social Protection Fund (worth £100m) established in OFMDFM were trumpeted by them as wonderful initiatives that would make a real difference in hard-pressed communities in these harsh times. Now, through Assembly Questions, I have established that half way through the financial year not a single penny has been expended.
“Yet again, the dysfunctionalism of OFMDFM prevails. Can you imagine the outcry if a Direct Rule minister hadn’t bothered to get round to distributing a £100m fund? But, as with everything OFMDFM touches, it languishes in intolerable delay. At the time of their announcement I said these funds should have been in DSD, but OFMDFM purloined them for the short-term glory, but now patently can’t handle them.
“Meanwhile DEL is under impossible pressure to find £85m to plug the tuition fee gap, while all the time OFMDFM sits on £100m it isn’t spending!
“What we have at Stormont is the very worst of shambolic government where mismanagement and gridlock are the order of the day.”
Social Protection Fund
Question: To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) how much has been spent to date under the Social Protection Fund; and (ii) how much is estimated to be spent in the remainder of the current financial year.
Answer: To date, no monies have been released from the fund. Our officials are working with other departments to assess funding options and potential initiatives.
Social Investment Fund
Question: To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) how much has been spent to date under the Social Investment Fund; and (ii) how much is estimated to be spent in the remainder of the current financial year.
Answer: The policy is currently being developed and is at an advanced stage. Therefore the spend part of the process has not yet commenced.
We have given the commitment that the fund will remain an £80 million fund. Therefore any monies not processed this year will be re-profiled across years 2, 3 and 4.
