Stormont Halts Employment Initiative - But It's Full Steam Ahead With North - Southery
16 November 2011
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I am appalled to learn that the “Step Ahead” employment initiative is to pause recruitment at a time when it is needed more than ever.
“The Department of Employment and Learning introduced the Steps to Work programme in September 2008 with the aim of assisting people who are unemployed or economically inactive to find work. Step Ahead is a waged employment initiative within the programme and provided six month employment within the voluntary or community sector for those on benefits for 30 months or more.
“DEL itself acknowledges that demand placed on the programme has grown because of the “unprecedented increase in unemployment levels over recent years”. I am therefore shocked to learn that DEL’s bid for an additional £9.2m in order to meet the shortfall and maintain Steps to Work provision, including the Step Ahead strand at current levels has not been met, leaving a projected shortfall of over £4.7m.
“With those on Jobseeker’s numbering around 61,400 in September 2011 compared with just 22,000 in November 2007 one really does wonder where the Executive’s priorities lie. It is simply scandalous that the Executive cannot find the relatively small sum needed to keep this worthwhile initiative going while continuing to squander millions on North/South Bodies which deliver nothing of tangible benefit for the people of Northern Ireland and which don’t even deliver on the very basics of financial accountability. Just last week the Culture Minister had to attempt to explain why the accounts and annual reports of the North/South Language body for 2008, 2009 or 2010 have yet to see the light of day.
“It’s time Stormont delivered for the people and stopped squandering money on the artificial political creations of the Belfast Agreement.”
