A SENIOR SDLP figure has dismissed DUP criticism after he questioned a controversial Stormont community halls scheme.
Former East Derry DUP MLA Adrian McQuillan hit out at SDLP representative John Dallat who had raised concerns about groups applying to the scheme for work carried out at Orange hallS.
Mr McQuillan man accused Mr Dallat of “rank hypocrisy” and raised the example of a Co Antrim group, Friends of Glenarriffe, which was awarded £180,000 by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council council last year for the development of a new sports and community centre at Oisin Glenariffe GAA club.
The projected was supported by the SDLP.
Mr Dallat has voiced concerns about several organisations that have received funding to carry out work at Orange halls under a community halls scheme organised by the Department for Communities.
It has emerged that nine groups describing themselves as ‘community’ or ‘cultural societies’ are among 90 organisations offered cash through the controversial scheme launched by minister Paul Givan at an Orange hall last year.
Mr McQuillan said: "The owners of the grounds and existing sports centre, Oisins GAA, didn't apply 'upfront' in their own name but will use and benefit from the upgraded facility, so his comments in that regard are nothing other than the usual rank hypocrisy we have come to expect from John Dallat's brand of SDLP.”
Mr Dallat responded: “I am amazed at how the DUP candidate Adrain McQuillan is able to compare apples with oranges when he attempts to justify third party organisations making applications for grants for Orange halls when there is no reason why the applications could not be made in the name of the brethren."
