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DUP-Sinn Féin in dispute over cross-border funding

Brendan Hughes
BBC News NI political reporter
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The deputy first minister says she can "see no reason to change" the current funding model

The deputy first minister has said a Sinn Féin minister's proposal to change funding arrangements for north-south bodies "breaks the balance" between Stormont and the Irish government.

Emma Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), denied blocking Caoimhe Archibald's plans, but said there was no agreement at this stage.

Sinn Féin has accused the DUP of "holding up" the funding proposals for cross-border bodies set up under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The dispute emerges after one of the organisations, Irish-language agency Foras na Gaeilge, announced funding cuts.

It said it has to make savings of more than €800,000 (£669,000) which will mean funding cuts to some groups operating in Northern Ireland.

Foras na Gaelige receives funding from both the Stormont executive and the Irish government.

An Irish government department said additional monies have been made available in its budget in recent years.

But it said this must be matched "according to the funding ratio" by Stormont's Department of Communities before any budget increase can be made.

An Irish-language campaigner described the funding pressures as a "total failure from both the northern and southern governments".

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Archibald has proposed an alternative funding model which she hopes the executive discuss as soon as possible

Caoimhe Archibald told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme she had put forward an "alternative funding model" for north-south bodies.

"I hope to have that paper discussed by the executive as soon as possible," said the outgoing finance minister, who on Monday was moved to the economy portfolio.

Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday there was a "careful balance" in funding for the north-south bodies.

She said this was "to ensure that the work that happens within those bodies is also balanced in terms of the north-south aspects of those".

"I understand that the finance minister perhaps is proposing to break that, and indeed to facilitate the south to increase their contribution without that being linked to Northern Ireland's contribution," she said.

"That is not something that I am in agreement with, so therefore it is not blocked - there is simply not agreement with that proposal at this stage."

No reason to change 'current funding model'

Little-Pengelly said she could "see no reason to change" the current funding model.

"If the only alternative funding model that is on the table is one that breaks the balance between the contributions between the Republic of Ireland government and the Northern Ireland government to north-south bodies, then that is not something that I am in agreement with," she added.

"I am in agreement with that being balanced across the two jurisdictions. That gives both jurisdictions that balanced say in terms of both the activities and the funding model."

The deputy first minister was responding to questions from Sinn Féin assembly member Emma Sheerin.

She asked for "an explanation for the delay in introducing a new funding model", saying it could provide "vital funding to both the Ulster Scots Agency and to Foras na Gaelige".

Stormont's Executive Office, the Department of Finance and the Department for Communities were approached for comment.