Reasons for funding snub U-turn explained

The Minister recently visited Dungiven to examine the need for funding for the area as part of a scheme to tackle derelict and ruined buildings around Northern Ireland.

He later made an announcement that a host of schemes were to receive funding, although Dungiven and the Limavady Borough was not among them. The Minister announced the following day on local radio that he had managed to secure additional funding, and that some of it was to go to Dungiven after all.

At Stormont this week, he had been asked to “detail the unsuccessful applications from each local council to the Dereliction Fund.”

The Minister, after outlining all the council bids and listing the successful and unsuccessful bids, also provided information on what the criteria for assessment were. He said: “A proposal received from the Causeway Coast and Glen Cluster was not allocated funds. Since that time it has been possible to fund the proposal of Limavady Borough Council and Newry and Mourne Council.”

He added: “Councils were asked to set out how their bid would provide one or all of the following: benefits to tourism; a contribution to regeneration and tackling social need; an impact in strengthening and reinforcing existing co-operation and collaboration between NICS departments; a spin-off “multiplier” effect on the local economy, both in terms of jobs created, and the positive impact on the private sector and the local community.

“The detailed criteria against which proposals were assessed were: need – an examination of the need for the work, its wider contribution to the area and any potentially complementing interface with initiatives of other Departments; impact – including consideration of the context and timing of any related event or projects which prompt and support the council’s proposal; preparedness – account being taken of the council’s thoroughness in planning the project and developing tenders etc. to ensure a practical ability to spend funding in line with its allocation; and synergies with relevance to the local community - consideration of the views and aspirations of local interest groups or residents and assessing how the work would interface with local priority needs and what longer term benefits might ensue.

“It was based on a scoring matrix informed by the above criteria that monies were allocated with

additional particular regard to the main Belfast – Derry road at Dungiven and the Newry and Mourne Council area give the world Fire and Police games. As a result £2.2 million has now been allocated in an initiative that did not exist years ago. Given the popularity and impact of the scheme, I believe my argument for continued dereliction funding, including from monitoring rounds, is strong.”

The Minister had also been asked this week “whether he plans to have any further rounds of dereliction funding for town centres?”

Mr Attwood said: “Following my announcement on 4 February 2013 of a £1 million funding package to tackle dereliction in Fermanagh, Down, Lisburn, Moyle and Belfast councils, a further £0.2 million has been identified for properties within Newry and Mourne District Council, Limavady District Council and Belfast City Council.

“I see dereliction funding as a rolling programme which I am planning to maintain into the next financial year and beyond. Existing bids will be reconsidered as and when further funding becomes available and councils will have the opportunity to refresh their bids at that point if they so wish. I believe monitoring rounds provide a mechanism to roll out the scheme across the Council areas, particularly those which have not benefited to date. For a relatively small sum the dereliction fund can have a big impact. The evidence is for all to see. I hope others will back me.”

Dungiven councillor Sean McGlinchey has welcomed the Minister’s announcement that Dungiven is to receive some funding after all, saying that it would be a “great boost to the town.”