DUP MEP, Jim Allister, has revealed an increase in  Protestant employment with SEUPB in 2005, which he welcomes, but says the Funding Body has much further to go. Jim Allister said,

“The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has a central role in the oversight and administration of PEACE Funding.  Shortly after my election to Europe, I established there was a distinct lack of confidence within the Unionist community in this cross-border body.  Such was contributing to the low delivery of PEACE funding to the majority community. 

In December 2004 I established that SEUPB had itself a totally imbalanced staff complement.  Only 5 of its 31 staff in Northern Ireland were from a Protestant background.  In consequence I pressed upon SEUPB the need for affirmative action to redress this imbalance.  I have just received the latest figures from SEUPB which show that in December 2005 9 of their 31 staff are now from the majority community. 

Though there is still a great distance to go, in terms of securing a balanced staff, I welcome such progress as has been made in 2005, believing that it demonstrates such change is possible, if the will to implement it is present.  Perhaps most telling is the fact that in 2004 only 21 per cent of Protestants who applied for jobs were shortlisted, whereas in 2005 that figure doubled to 42 per cent.  

I believe it is important that the primary body overseeing EU Peace funding should demonstrate it is reaching out to all in a balanced manner, if it is to induce the confidence which will contribute to a greater uptake of funding by the under-funded majority community.”

Peace Funding