Mid Ulster ‘shortchanged’ on community fund

Figures released by the Department show that of the £1.5 million available to Northern Ireland’s 11 councils, Mid Ulster District Council received £63,300.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council received £67,950 while Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council got £133,800 from the scheme.

The two biggest beneficiaries from the scheme are, perhaps unsurprisingly, Belfast City Council and Derry and Strabane District Council who received £485,700 and £280,950 respectively.

Speaking about the scheme a spokesperson for the Department said: “The COVID-19 Community Support Fund has been established, with an initial allocation of £1.5 million released to local councils from April 1 to June 30.

“This will support grassroots community groups across three broad criteria: financial (those on low incomes and at risk due to financial stress); food (access to food for those most in need) and connectivity (those living alone in rural areas likely to experience greater challenges in accessing services).

“The Minister has committed to review the impact of the current funding and assess future requirements in mid May 2020.”

A spokesperson for Mid Ulster District Council confirmed it has received the funding from the Department and allocated it for food banks and community groups to support their COVID-19 responses.

Speaking about the funding, Sinn Fein’s group leader, Councillor Cathal Mallaghan said: “We are in a time of crisis. Minister Hargey and the Department for Communities have been proactive in ensuring the most vulnerable in society are protected.

“The method used by DfC offered an immediate funding distribution framework minimising the administrative overhead and ensuring the timely dispersal of the £1.5 million.

“The formula to split allocations across councils was set some years ago based on population numbers and deprivation statistics.

“I understand the Department has recognised the need to review the ongoing suitability of this methodology. As a council, we are looking forward to working with DfC on this matter.

“Minister Hargey has instructed a review of this crisis funding at the six week mark. At this point, the Department will evaluate the impact of the current funding in collaboration with council colleagues to inform future requirements.

The Deputy Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Clement Cuthbertson said the figures were disappointing but expressed his hope that more funding may be secured in later stages of the scheme.

“It is disappointing that Mid Ulster Council will receive the smallest amount out of the 11 council areas.

“It has been widely reported that the Mid Ulster Area will be the hardest hit economically, that will have a major impact on local communities.

“Mid Ulster Council has committed money to recognised food banks across the area, including the Vineyard in Dungannon and RBL in Fivemiletown.

“It has also set up an emergency grant scheme for community organisations involved in helping the vulnerable and isolated in their communities. I am pleased that over 20 groups have so far been able to avail of this funding.

“The Department has said that this is the first tranche of funding to be allocated, and the impact will be evaluated in May, hopefully then Mid Ulster will be considered for further support.”

Independent Councillor Barry Monteith has claimed the figures are “typical of the neglect of our area”.

“This is just not good enough,” said the Dungannon councillor.

“Mid Ulster is predicted to be the area worst hit economically in the six counties. Yet, it will receive the least in this batch of funding.

“This is typical of the neglect of our area by these centralised departments. It is further proof of just how out of touch from what is going on at local level the so-called ‘powers that be’ are.”

SDLP Councillor Malachy Quinn expressed his disappointment and claimed there was a fault in the modelling used by the Department.

“It is very disappointing and I believe it is a result of a fault in the modelling method used by the Department,” said Cllr Quinn.

“While the majority of money is going to Belfast and Derry, Mid Ulster deserves to have the same level of funding as other rural councils, which it simply isn’t getting.

“Over the past number of weeks I have been working with different community groups to successfully secure funding from DfC and I can’t praise those groups highly enough for the work they have been doing and I have little doubt their efforts have saved many lives.”

The Ulster Unionist Party was asked for comment.

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