THERE have been calls for clarity from the British government over replacement for EU funding that helped community groups and charities in the north carry out vital work.
The government has claimed its own replacement for the European Social Fund (ESF) will match it "at a minimum", but fears remain that charities and groups may face having to reduce staff and services.
The ESF is due to end on Friday, halting £40 million offered to groups in the north that has previously been topped-up by Stormont to provide a pot of £54 million.
Described as the EU's "main instrument for supporting jobs, helping people get better jobs and ensuring fairer job opportunities for all EU citizens", the fund will no longer be available in the UK as a result of Brexit.
The UK has said it will replace the ESF with its own scheme, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will "go straight to local places right across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to invest in three local priorities; communities and place, support for local businesses and people and skills".
It will be offered through the UK's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Its secretary Michael Gove told MPs on Monday that he was "well aware of the need to deliver quickly".
However, with no firm date on the replacement fund taking over, groups in the north backed by ESF funding have expressed concern over operating in the face of uncertainty.
They include the Women's Centre in Derry, that helps women from disadvantaged backgrounds access education and employment opportunities.
Its director Catherine Barr recently told the BBC the end of the ESF had caused an "awful atmosphere" due to fears among staff. She said the UK government had been "dragging their heels" over a replacement.
Meanwhile, Co Tyrone-based disability campaigner Dermot Devlin said the ending of the ESF "impacts hugely on the lives of disabled and older people who depend on these services".
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey called on London to end the uncertainty facing community and voluntary groups that had led them to a "cliff edge".
"The British government must live up to commitments they made to fully replace EU funding," he said.
Speaking of the role of Stormont in boosting the ESF, he added: "We should have local ministers in place and working together in the Executive to protect vital community services and it’s totally unacceptable that the DUP’s blockade is preventing this from happening".
DUP MLA Emma Little Pengelly, whose party backed Brexit, said it was "appalling" that organisations were left with concerns over the future.
"The UK government promised full UK replacement funding for ESF. This has not yet happened," she said.
"They have known for the last four years that ESF funding was ending, and they should have fulfilled their promise and delivered. The UK always paid in more to the EU than structured funds or schemes paid back, so there can be no excuse for any shortfall in funding now."
She added that concerned groups "should not be left in limbo any longer".
A UK government spokesperson told the Irish News on Monday: "The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will, at a minimum, match previous EU funding in Northern Ireland.
"As EU projects come to an end, funding from UKSPF will increase, reaching over £50m for Northern Ireland in this financial year and £74m in the next, to spread opportunity, help local businesses and improve pride in place."
