AQO 2994/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 13/01/2022
Answered On Date: 25/01/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to outline the number of jobs with apprenticeships which could be affected as a result of the loss of £100 million in core funding from the EU.

Answer:

I wish to thank the Member for his question and giving me the opportunity to respond to some of the misleading and simplistic narrative from some his party colleagues.

Even a basic understanding of mathematics would demonstrate that even with EU funds, many areas of work within the Department would need to stop because of the Finance Minister’s draft budget settlement.

The UK Government has made a commitment that it will replace, at a minimum, the level of EU funding that flowed into Northern Ireland. The real challenge that we face is that additional funding for Northern Ireland is being managed by Westminster. It does not necessarily align to the Executive’s priorities. Therefore funding for core DfE services, such as apprenticeships and grants for innovation, were the subject of a significant bid, which has to date, been declined by the Minister of Finance.

It is also worth noting that the Department of Finance has been leading on the issue of EU replacement funding on behalf of the Executive.

The reality is that the Finance Ministers draft Budget (2022-25) proposes real terms cuts to the Department’s baseline of 8% (£67m) in Year 1, 11% (£88m) in Year 2 and 13% (£104m) in Year 3, totalling £259 million across the three years.

I am sure the Member would wish to join with me to encourage a rethink about disinvesting in young people, skills and widening participation.