AQW 2393/22-27 Written question to the Minister for the Economy
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.
Asked by Andrew Muir MLA on 29 June 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 29 June 2022
- Answer due by
- 18 July 2022
- Answered
- 4 July 20225 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- No
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.