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Stormont's £100m EU funding revealed as Theresa May warns of Brexit impact on border

British Home Secretary Theresa May with North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon during a visit to Bangor's Denroy Plastics. Picture by Philip Magowan, PressEye
British Home Secretary Theresa May with North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon during a visit to Bangor's Denroy Plastics. Picture by Philip Magowan, PressEye British Home Secretary Theresa May with North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon during a visit to Bangor's Denroy Plastics. Picture by Philip Magowan, PressEye

THE Stormont executive received almost £100m from the European Union over a five-year period from 2010, according to official figures.

The cash was in addition to the £300m-plus paid out every year in farm subsidies and the tens of millions of Euro distributed annually through special EU programmes.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he has yet to hear how the funding shortfall would be met in the event of a Brexit.

The biggest recipient of EU funds was the DUP-led Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, which alongside its arms-length bodies such as Invest NI drew down nearly £34m from Brussels over the last assembly mandate.

The Department for Employment and Learning received more than £32m, while the Department of Regional Development was granted £15.5m.

In all, Stormont's 12 departments drew down a total of £95.7m.

Leave campaigners have argued that because the UK is a net contributor to the EU, savings generated by a Brexit could be used to support agriculture and other areas.

However, Mr Eastwood claimed the figures underlined that the north's interests are "best served remaining in Europe".

"The £95m provided through European competitive funds over the last mandate is a substantial funding stream that has resourced research and innovation projects, reconciliation initiatives and infrastructure development," he said.

"I have yet to hear in any detail from the first minister, or any other Leave campaigner, precisely how this shortfall will be met – that applies to the £2 billion in agriculture subsidies, the £330m in rural development funds or the £200m in continuing PEACE funds."

He added that despite urging a UK withdrawal from Europe, the DUP’s election manifesto made commitments to seek funds from the European Investment Bank for a new £1 billion investment fund for the north.

"Given that the EIB has already said that leaving Europe would put any future investment at risk it’s fair to ask if the DUP actually understand the value of our membership of the EU at all or if they’re pursuing a narrow ideological agenda that will hurt people here," he said.

The emergence of the figures came as British Home Secretary described the economic argument for Northern Ireland remaining in the EU as "compelling".

"Not only does Northern Ireland rely on EU exports to a greater extent than nearly every other region of the United Kingdom, 50,000 jobs here are linked to EU trade," she said during a visit to the north yesterday.

"The local agri-foods sector is a major economic player and importantly Northern Ireland is a net beneficiary of European funding – in so many ways, the economic argument for Remain is particularly strong in Northern Ireland."

Ms May also raised further doubts about the Leave campaign's assertion that a Brexit would not signal movement restrictions along the Irish border.

"It is inconceivable that a vote for Brexit would not have a negative impact on the north/south border, bringing cost and disruption to trade and to people’s lives," the home secretary said.

"Put simply, Northern Ireland outside the EU could not prevent free movement and continue with an open north/south border."