By Alan Healy
A job scheme run by Derry’s council was shelved just six weeks after its announcement was not eligible for EU funding, it emerged this weekend.
The Derry News revealed on Thursday that the ILM Programme, which offered paid work placements for local young people currently in education or training, had been shelved.
The scheme, which was announced just weeks ago, was offered by Derry City and Strabane District Council as part of the EU’s PEACE IV Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
However, both people selected for the scheme and employers were notified by council last week that the scheme would no longer be going ahead due to funding issues which were ‘outside of its control’.
It’s now emerged that the employability element of the scheme was not eligible for funding from the EU.
A spokesperson for the SEUPB explained: ““Unfortunately an issue has emerged in relation to the employability element of the ILM Programme, this element is not eligible for funding under the EU’s PEACE IV Programme.
“The SEUPB is currently working closely with Derry City and Strabane District Council to potentially re-engineer the ILM Programme that would allow the Council to achieve the original objectives.
“The SEUPB can confirm that no PEACE IV funding will be lost to the Council as a result of this issue.”
'Shock'
Commenting, the independent councillor Darren O’Reilly, said the decision had come as a ‘shock’ to the ‘participants and employers’ and called for funds to now be freed up to
“This decision has come as a shock to everyone, particularly participants and employers who had subscribed to this innovative skills development and learning programme,” he said.
“Through recent studies, local research has identified that this kind of skills and work-related project is very desirable for young people throughout this city and district.
“This is reinforced by the large numbers of expressions of interests and applicants, as well as employers, interested in this project.
“This project would have offered amenable work experience at a living wage, which is in itself unique, sadly.”
Cllr O’Reilly added: “I am calling for this project to be immediately funded by the Department of Economy, as the rationale is clearly there.
“It is unfortunate that we have lost out on this project through the PEACE IV Programme, but it is timely in that the current political situation means that the Permanent Secretary will be agreeing the budget over the coming weeks.
“It is imperative that this project is included in that budget, as the work has already been done to develop it.”
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