THE number of loyalist bonfire groups taking part in a Belfast council funding scheme has fallen for the third year in a row.
It comes as the DUP and Sinn Féin face accusations of "undermining" the council programme by handing out £400,000 to community groups through a 'festivals fund'.
Among the groups to receive funding is a UDA-linked organisation near a bonfire that last year caused damage to a city centre apartment block.
The DUP has defended the funding decision as "positive and worthwhile", but rival parties have branded it a political "carve up".
The council's 'bonfire and cultural expression programme' offers funding of up to £1,750 for related community activities if bonfires meet certain criteria, such as not burning tyres and avoiding paramilitary or offensive displays.
There were 28 applications from groups linked to July bonfires this year, compared to 31 related to July bonfires in 2017, 32 in 2016, and 44 in 2015.
Belfast City Council (BCC) had extended the deadline for applications to Monday past amid several loyalist groups publicly refusing to take part, accusing the scheme of aiming to "control culture and tradition".
Last week, a council committee on which Sinn Féin and the DUP have a combined majority decided to allocate money to groups for "area-based festivals".
The £400,000 was described at the strategic policy and resources committee as being for "bonfire diversion".
The call-in mechanism, which allows decisions to be reviewed, was removed from the process.
The press were also told to leave the room while the item was being discussed, but details have since been leaked.
One group receiving £26,521 is the Sandy Row-based Belfast South Community Resources (BSCR), which in the past has been linked to the UDA.
In 2016, BSCR received money from Stormont's controversial Social Investment Fund.
It was alleged that SIF money bought a £700,000 Sandy Row office block, which veteran loyalist Jackie McDonald used to conduct UDA business, which was gifted to BSCR.
BSCR has been involved in liaising between statutory agencies and those involved with a bonfire at Hope Street, which last year damaged windows at the nearby Victoria Place flats.
Others to be given funding are: Féile – £100,000; Northern Ireland Alternatives Community Festivals Summary – East Belfast Community Festival – £50,000; New Lodge – £40,000; Markets – £10,000; Woodvale – £100,000; and Ulster Scots Agency – £80,000.
BSCR's Trevor Greer said the funding would be used for summer activities for young people including digital fabrication.
He said he did not believe the funding had any connection to bonfires.
"Somewhere along the line there have been wires crossed and bonfires have been thrown into this, but you can take it from me, from BSCR's point of view it has got nothing to do with this," he said.
"Yes it's diversionary, but it's not diverting anyone away from bonfires."
But Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown said the funding was presented to councillors as relating to bonfires.
"Our concern is that Sinn Féin and the DUP have undermined the bonfire scheme by allocating money in this way," he said.
"We are trying to make the bonfire scheme work and we give political commitments to do that, but this approach risks undermining the confidence in the communities for the bonfire scheme."
SDLP councillor Tim Attwood, vice chair of the Shared City Partnership which oversees the 'bonfire and cultural expression programme', also expressed concern.
"The concern that people have for example in south Belfast, where we had significant problems at the Hope Street site which put people's properties and homes at threat, is that there is a perception that bad behaviour is being rewarded in a significant way," he said.
However, DUP councillor Lee Reynolds defended the funding.
"These proposals received support at committee from the DUP, Sinn Féin and PUP," he said.
"Funding was allocated to community events and programmes in a number of areas to deliver a positive summer for our city and improve the lives of young people.
He added: "If Alliance, SDLP and UUP do not consider those positive and worthwhile activities that is for them to explain, we do consider them positive and worthwhile."
Sinn Féin did not respond to requests for a comment.
BCC said the 28 applications for its bonfire programme for 2018 will be assessed before funding offers are made.
It said area-based festival funding decision will be put to full council for approval next month.
