Equality bid isneeded forFoyle Cup cash

SPORTS Minister Carál Ní Chuilín says she won’t fund future Foyle Cup tournaments except in the context of an application based on promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion.

She said funding for the Foyle Cup was the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB).

Foyle MLA Mark H. Durkan asked the Minister whether she would consider providing departmental funding for the Foyle Cup Annual Football Tournament.

Ms Ní Chuilín replied: “The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETINI) through NITB, is responsible for events policy including provision of support and funding to events including sporting events such as the Foyle Cup.

“Consideration may be given to future potential funding in the context of my Department’s priority of ‘Promoting Equality and Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion.’”

Last month the Sentinel reported how a fifty per cent drop in the money doled out by the NITB Event Fund for the Foyle Cup this year relates only to a portion of the predicted total budget for the competition.

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster said the NITB will only pay out against “eligible expenditure” and that the organisation has confirmed that their support only relates to a portion of the Foyle Cup budget.