AQW 2393/22-27

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 29/06/2022
Answered On Date: 04/07/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what measures his Department is taking to ensure that groups which rely on the European Social Fund will receive match funding once the European Social Fund ends on 31st March 2023.

Answer:

As the Member will be aware, following the conclusion of EU funding programmes, my Department no longer has funding in baseline to continue provision of match funding.

From 1st April 2023 the Shared Prosperity Fund is the sole funding source for activity currently supported under ESF.

The Member should note that the Finance Minister and officials lead in negotiation of replacement EU Funds with UKG and we will continue to work with them and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to try to ensure that funding is directed to priority areas.