AQW 8409/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 08/10/2020
Answered On Date: 13/11/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy, with regard to the ending of the current European Social Fund Programme funding period in 2022, for her assessment of the risks to funding to Northern Ireland disability employment groups.

Answer:

The funding for existing projects supported by the Northern Ireland European Social Fund (ESF) Programme (2014-2020) continues until March 2022. A joint project with the Department for Communities has been established to consider the policy and delivery options once the current projects conclude.

Securing the necessary funding will be a key consideration. Until we have clarity from the UK Government on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund there is a risk to provision after March 2022. Engagement on the funding issues is being progressed by the Department of Finance with the objective of securing at least the same level of funding as we currently receive from the EU.